Barriers to Effective Interpersonal Communication between Parents and Their Youth on Hiv Preventon: Study Of North Kamagambo Location, Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

Communication within the family is important since it enable members to express their needs, share ideas, feeling, thought and many other things a family may need to share. Young people between 12-30 years are increasingly becoming vulnerable to HIV AIDS. This study examined the barriers to effective interpersonal communication (IPC) between parents and their youth on HIV prevention. The specific objective was to identify the barriers to effective interpersonal communication between parent and their youth on HIV prevention and how these barriers affect HIV prevention among youth in North Kamagambo Location Migori County. The study covered a population of 18,775according to the 2009 National Census Report .The study was supported by literature which stated that, sexual behavior of young people were based on erroneous assumption that youth rarely communicate with their parents on matters of HIV/AIDS and instead they are observational and direct. Background: Communication is a process of founder mental element in understanding of human behavior and is useful in seeking solution to problem afflicting the society .Interpersonal communication builds good relationship between parents and their children,however successful and effective communication stem from the implementation of the communication process(Buzzannell,2000).The family has a social obligation to provide relevant information to its younger members because this is the most trusted institution by most human beings. Communication within the family is tailored to accommodate all topics that greatly influence human development and this was done with ease and comfort to allow effective articulation by all concerned members. Method:Stratified sampled was used to sample the entire population into different sub groups or strata i.e. fathers, mothers, sons and daughters respectively whom were randomly selected from different strata between 12-30 youth age and between 30-50 parents age. Therefore, the researcher used simple random sampling techniqueto select a minimum of 240 respondents of whom 80 respondents were for in depth interviews and 160 respondents were for focus group discussion and every unit in a stratum had the same chance of being selected to satisfy the study. Findings: Focus group discussion and in-depth Interview revealed that,56.25% of respondents perception were neutral in a continuum they were either positive or negative quite unstable in their feelings ,35% of respondents on time barriers could only talk once daily stating that they could not know when, where and how to make IPC effective on HIV prevention. While 50% of respondents agreed that relevant content depends on the family structure (one verses two families, blended families or other relative in the house hold) all are of potential relevance and 43.75% depends on cultural taboos which had a negative effect on IPC. Conclusion: In relation to the findings of the study the researcher put emphasis on building youth self-esteem by teaching them to resist peer pressure by empowering them emotionally spiritually and mentally. Cultural beliefs and norms should be done away with those which are not helpful in confronting health activities in the community. Lastly reinforced behavior may help the youth to value their positive attitude on their sexual behavior as well as being ready to observe and learn from their parents as role models