Effect of Comprehensive HIV Prevention Information Package on Syphilis Infection Levels Among Youths in Kakamega and Kericho Counties, Kenya

Abstract

The world's biggest threat to development and public health is HIV. Youth in sub-Saharan Africa are primarily affected by the HIV epidemic. Despite the availability of HIV prevention options, new infections among youth in Kenya only reduced by 56% between 2015 and 2021. Various HIV prevention interventions have been implemented among youth with little or no assessment of their effectiveness in reducing new HIV infections. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect comprehensive HIV prevention information package of the package on syphilis infections levels among the youths in Kakamega and Kericho counties, Kenya. A non-randomized control trial was conducted with Kakamega as intervention and Kericho as Comparison County. The pretest questionnaire was administered in both intervention and control counties in December 2001. The posttest questionnaire was administered in both intervention and control counties after nine months of providing HIV prevention information package. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was transcribed and analyzed thematically. There was significant increase in knowledge of sexually transmitted infections in intervention county (t = 3.340, P = 0.021). There was significant number of youth in Kakamega county who reported unusual sores in genital area at endline (t = 2.035, P = 0.043). Similarly, more youths sought treatment after experiencing the syphilis symptoms (t = 1.931, P = 0.054) at endline in Kakamega county. There were no significant differences in the number of youths in Kericho county at endline who experienced unusual symptoms, sought treatment and informed their sexual partners (P > 0.05). The findings from the study will inform national rollout of the intervention to contribute to safer sexual behaviors among youth.