The Influence Of Hiv /Aids On Early Childhood Development In Selected Lower Primary Sections Of Schools Of Githumu Zone, Kandara Division, South District- Kenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ......•.••..••••.•.•.•.•.•.......•.•....................................................... v

liST OF TABLES .................................•....••...•••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•..................................... viii

liST OF FIGURES •..............................................•.......•...•••.••..•••.•..•...••................ .ix

ABSTRACT ...........•.•.•.•.........................................................••• : ..••••••....•..•.••••............ x

CHAPTER ONE ...............................................................................•........................ !

1. 0 Introduction .................................................................................................... I

1.1 HIV/AIDS in Kenya ....................................................................................... 2

1.2 Statement of the problem ................................................................ : ........... 3

1.3 Purpose of the study ..................................................................................... 3

1.4 Specific objectives ......................................................................................... 3

1.5 Research questions ...................................................................................... .4

1.6 Scope ............................................................................................................... 4

1. 7 Significance of the study .............................................................................. 4

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 6

liTERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 6

2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................. 14

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 14

3.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. l4

3.1 Research design .......................................................................................... 14

3.2 Research area and population ................................................................... l4

3.3 Sample size and selection techniques ...................................................... 14

3.4 Types of Data gathered .............................................................................. IS

3.5 Instrumentation ........................................................................................... I 5

3.6 Procedure of data collection ...................................................................... 15

3. 7 Procedure of data analysis ......................................................................... I 6

3.8 Ethical considerations ................................................................................. I 6

3.9 Limitations of the study .............................................................................. l6

CHAPTER FOU R .................................................................................................... 18

PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANAlYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND

DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................... 18

4.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. I 8

4.1 Background characteristics of respondents ............................................. I 8

4.1.1 Academic qualification of teachers ....................................................... 18

4.1.2 Professional qualification of teachers ................................................... I 9

4.1.3 Teachers working experience in lower primary section .................... 20

4.2 Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in lower primary section of schools ............... 21

4.2.1 Prevalence of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in schools ...

4.3 HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable living arrangement ......................... 23

4.4 Challenges facing HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children ............ 24

4.4.1 HIV/AIDS orphans rate of accessibility of basic needs ...................... 24

4.4.2 Children's views on whether they were getting the basic needs from their caregivers ................................................................................................................. 25

4.4.3 Psychosocial challenges of children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS

4.4.4 Children's contribution on the psychosocial challenges they face as a result of HIV AIDS .............................................................................................................. 28

4.5 The influence of HIV/AIDS on academic progress of orphans and vulnerable children ..................................................................................................................... 29

4.5.1 Children's academic performance and HIV/AIDS ............................... 29

4.5.2 The influence of HIV/AIDS on school attendance .............................. 30

4.5.3 Repetition of classes, late enrolment and HIV /AIDS ......................... 31

4.5.4 HIV/AIDS orphan hood and school dropout in lower primary ......... 32

4.6 Interventions adopted as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned ..................... .33

CHAPTER FIVE ...................................................................................................... 35

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS35

5.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 35

5.1 Summary of findings ...... : ............................................................................ 35

5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................... .39

5.3 Recommendations ....................................................................................... 39

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ .42

APPENDICES ..................................................... : ................. :: ................................... 44

Appendix A: Questionnaire for teachers ............................................................. .44

Appendix B: Interview guide for children ........................................................... .49

ABSTRACT

A descriptive study was conducted in Githumu location in Kandara Division, was carried out to examine the challenges which children affected by HIVIAIDS face. The following objectives guided the study; to assess the prevalence of HIV I AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in primary schools; identify the type if caregivers these children were staying with; find out the challenges which children were facing as a result of being affected by the disease; assess the academic progress of these children and assess the intervention measures adopted for these children while in school. 20 lower primary school teachers were randomly sampled for this study. The teachers identified 15 HIVIAIDS orphans and vulnerable children for more respondents. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from the teachers and an interview guide to collect from the young children. Findings indicated that there were 37 HIVIAIDS orphans and vulnerable children attending school in the selected primary schools of Githumu. Ten of them were living with mothers, nine with grand parents, 6 with fathers and the rest were with aunts and uncles while 2 were in orphanages. Many of them were experiencing psychosocial challenges, while a reasonable number was not receiving materials needs. It was also established that some were not performing well and according to the teachers some were not attending school regularly and some had a problem of repeating grades while some had dropped out of school. It was recommended that schools develop instructional policies on HIV I AIDS; intensification of testing and counseling; provision of immediate training of teachers; to remove the barriers to healthcare by tackling share stigma and discrimination.