Hiv and Education In Kenya Case Study: Eastern Province

SUMMARY The general objective of this research study was to investigate the impact ofHIVIAIDS on education. The study also sought to find out how education can be used in the prevention and control ofHIVIAIDS. The specific objectives of the study were to: detennine the impact ofHIV/AIDS on children's learning experiences; determine the impact ofHJV/AlDS on communities participation in education; find out how education can be used in tl1e prevention and control ofHJV/AIDS; build local capacity in child focused research. The methodology for the study was qualitative and child focused. The study used a set of methods, which included written methods such as listings and essays, visual methods such as visual stimuli and drawings. Role-plays leading to focus group discussions were also conducted with children. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect background information. Data from written records available in the research sites and communities were obtained to cross check information given by informants as well as to help determine some of the impacts. Observation was also done throughout the study. to capture the general context of the research sites. Data analysis was done qualitatively and descriptively, mainly using content analysis. The study was national in scope, however, the criteria used to select study sites was designed to capture prevalences, variety of population characteristics, availability of infonnation and resources as well as taking into account the existing HIV/AIDS interventions. Consequently, the study was done in depth in Mornbasa, Thika Garissa and as supplementary in Busia, Kisumu, Kisii, Machakos, Nakuru, Turkana and Kilifi. In the process, at least one district was covered in each of the eight provinces. The findings of this study show that HIVIAIDS has had wide spread effects on children·s learning experiences. Children living in a world of AIDS experience many challenges. As parents, guardians and members of communities increasingly become infected by HIVIAIDS and eventually succumb to diseases, children are increasingly lacking basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, health and even education. Children are now becoming subject to many psycho-socio impacts of HI VI AIDS such as stigma, fear, worry, depression and hopelessness. All these impact negatively on their learning and development. The study further revealed that children's learning has been affected by HlVIAIDS in many ways. Children's participation was reported to have been affected in that pupils themselves are getting infected and some of them infect others; attendance and performance in schools is affected; pupils are dropping out of school while some were reported to have died due to suspected HIV I AIDS related causes. All these are compounded by pupils' lack of love and guidance as well as material support as parents and guardians also get infected by HIVIAIDS. The study also found perceptions, which indicated that the teaching force has also been affected by HIVIAIDS. Teachers' participation and performance in the learning process was reported to have been affected as some of the teachers have been infected and there~re are increasingly unavailable to the pupils. Pupils reported that they feared being taught by infected teachers.