The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the gender differences in the experiences of Kenyan youth living with HIV-AIDS and their decisions in relation to the disease in Kenya. There is need for counselors, educators, related professionals, and other stakeholders to have knowledge and awareness of the gender differences in the experiences of youth living with HIV-AIDS and their decisions in relation to the disease. To capture the distinctive meanings each youth has assigned to his or her experiences and decisions related to the disease, the study used a qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA). Four focus group interviews were conducted with 33 18-24 year old Kenyan youth (17 female and 16 male) who were living with HIV-AIDS. The youth receive HIV-AIDS support services in the Thika and Kiambu District/County Hospitals' HIV-AIDS Comprehensive Care Centers (CCCs) in Kenya. Five main themes emerged from data analysis including: (a) Self-Portraiture as Youth; (b) Reactions to a Positive HIV-AIDS Diagnosis; (c) HIV-AIDS Contraction Context; (d) Day-to-day Life While HIV-AIDS Positive; and (e) Sexual Behavior While HIV-AIDS Positive - Prevention. Implications for theory, research, and practice are suggested.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uiowa.edu/oai:ir.uiowa.edu:etd-8076 |
| Date | 01 December 2014 |
| Creators | Gathua, Virginia Wangũi |
| Contributors | Duys, David K., Henfield, Malik S. |
| Publisher | University of Iowa |
| Source Sets | University of Iowa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright © 2014 Virginia Wangũi Gathua |
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