Access and utilization of HIV/ AIDS information in rural areas in Tanzania: a case study of Kisarawe district
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Date
2014
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study examines the access to and utilisation of HIV/AIDS information in rural areas using Kisarawe District as a case study. The research was conducted in 15 purposively selected villages in the district. It adopted Shannon and Weaver's Model of Information Communication in which representation of message from the information source is transmitted using signals to the receiver and lastly the communicated messages reach the final destination. This cross-sectional survey uses a mixed method approach to collect data. A standardised and structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 342 randomly selected respondents aged between 18 and 49 years old. Key informant interviews were conducted with 33 care givers/health officials and village leaders. Furthermore, I 19 respondents participated in the Focus Group Discussions. The collected quantitative data were processed and analysed using a Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS). Qualitative data, on the other hand, were subjected to content analysis. The study established that radio is the most popular communication channel (by 80%) used to access and disseminate HIV/AIDS information, followed by newspapers (28%), television (28%), health centres (20%), friends (16%), drama and song (16%), posters and brochures (15%), village meetings (13%) and school teachers (I 1%).The least cited channels were family members (4%), religious leaders (4%) and the internet (1%). A number of governmental and non-governmental organisations disseminate I1IV/AIDS information and conduct HIV/AIDS sensitisation seminars in 'he study area. A majority of the respondents (94%) were found to be knowledgeable about I-IIV/AIDS, its mode of transmission prevention and care. Generally, most respondents (80%) felt that sharing of information and discussions on HIV / AIDS is the best way of raising awareness on prevention. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends that health facilities and Voluntary Counselling Testing (VCTs) services should be relocated within walking distance to encourage their effective usage. It is further recommended that the rural infrastructure should be improved to facilitate communication and HIV/AIDS information dissemination. Finally, the study recommends three areas for future research: First, to determine information communication channels used in Kagera region in mitigating against HIV/ AIDS; second, the contributions of information usage in the communities of Manyara (2.7%) and Dodoma (2%) regions which have lower IIIV/ AIDS prevalence rates and third. a study determines the most effective communication channels for I-IIV/AIDS information systems in rural areas.
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Available in print form
Keywords
Aids (Disease), Information services, Kisarawe district, Tanzania, Rural areas, Tanzania
Citation
Chande-Mallya, R. (2014) Access and utilization of HIV/ AIDS information in rural areas in Tanzania: a case study of Kisarawe district, Doctoral dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)