Determinants Of Psychosocial Well-Being Of Children (10-17 Years) Affected By Hiv And Aids In Kiambu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Children affected by HIV and AIDS (CAHA) are faced with psychological, social and

economic challenges among others. HIV and AIDS has compounded the situation

posing more suffering to children whose parents have died of the same. Children

affected by HIV and AIDS have been supported in various ways by their extended

families and many other organizations. While there are a number of programmes that

address the material needs of CAHA, there is less emphasis in assisting these children

cope with the distress associated with nursing or living with sick members of the

family, witnessing deaths of their parents and suffering the consequences thereafter.

The psychosocial well-being of CAHA may be affected as a result of illness and death

of their parents, exploitation, stigma and separation from siblings as well as lack of

adult support. The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of

psychosocial well-being of children affected by HIV and AIDS. This was a crosssectional

survey targeting 3780 children between 10-17 years affected by HIV and

AIDS living in foster families from registered CBOs in Kiambu County. Multi-stage

cluster sampling was used to select 345 children aged 10-17 years. First, Thika Sub

County was purposively selected, in the second stage systematic random sampling

was done for supporting families with CAHA and the third stage simple random

sampling was carried out in foster families with more than one CAHA to select the

participant for the study. Key informant interview guides, questionnaires, observation

checklist and child drawings were used to collect data. Both quantitative and

qualitative data were organized and categorized for analysis. Using Statistical

Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20, quantitative data was analyzed using

descriptive statistics; frequencies, means and percentages. Chi-square and factor

analysis were used to test the formulated hypotheses. Qualitative data was transcribed,

coded and categorized into themes and words to allow for analysis and presentation.

Results of the study established that there was a significant relationship between care

provided by foster families and psychosocial well-being of CAHA based on results of

factor analysis at 61.4% and chi-square results (χ2= 4.6607; df= 4; p=0.001). This

study showed that there existed a significant relationship between the types of support

available in the community and psychosocial well-being of children affected by HIV

and AIDS (χ2=7.8207; df =6; p=0.012). In addition, this study identified a significant

relationship between coping strategies adopted by children affected by HIV and AIDS

and their psychosocial well-being (χ2 = 6.4420; df= 6; p=0.003). This study concluded

that there were established relationships between care provided by foster families,

type of support available by the community and coping strategies adopted by children

affected by HIV and AIDS and their psychosocial well-being. The study

recommended that the Kenya government should commit resources to promote the

psychosocial well-being of CAHA at various levels through government mandated

departments. Parents can be guided to develop permanency plans for their children

and finally stakeholders; County governments, schools and non-governmental

organizations can work together to ensure sustainability of families and communities

so that children are retained in responsive environments.