Risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS infection among itinerant women entrepreneurs in Mbeya city and Kyela district, Tanzania
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Date
2009
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study to assess risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS infection among itinerant women
entrepreneurs (IWE) was conducted in Mbeya City and Kyela District in Mbeya Region.
Women in the two districts have trade links with neighbouring countries of Malawi and
Zambia. The region has the highest HIV prevalence (14%) in Tanzania. IWEs risk the danger
of contracting HIV/AIDS as they are more vulnerable to the disease due to the nature of their
work, which compels them to travel from place to place to purchase raw materials for their
businesses and in reselling them. Broadly, the objective was to investigate risk behaviours
leading to HIV/AIDS infection among IWEs in Mbeya City and Kyela District using a
sample of 228 respondents. The study used a cross-sectional research design. In-depth
interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and observations were used to collect
data. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention methods were assessed using an
index of knowledge. Similarly, an index was developed in assessing their sexual behaviours.
The study found that knowledge is widespread with 99.6% of respondents having heard of
HIV/AIDS. Those who had secondary education were more knowledgeable on HIV/AIDS
transmission and protection methods than those with low or no education. Their high general
knowledge on HIV/AIDS is not translated into practice whereby over half (50.5%) of them
had either low or medium knowledge on HIV/AIDS transmission and protection, suggesting
that they are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection. Lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS
transmission and protection was also reflected in their risky sexual behaviour which was
found to be high as indicated by the computed index mean. The findings call for specific
strategies to address problems of itinerant women entrepreneurs. These include: the
provision of education and training on business skills and legal rights to IWEs; provision of adequate knowledge on how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS; assessment of viable
means of micro-finance support to them and facilitate their formation; encouragement of
IWEs to form associations of petty women traders and to request NGOs to build the capacity
of the formed associations to enable them communicate their problems and negotiate with
local authorities.
Description
PhD-Thesis
Keywords
HIV/AIDS infection, Women entrepreneurs, Infection among women, Kyela district, Mbeya city