Risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS infection among itinerant women entrepreneurs in Mbeya city and Kyela district, Tanzania

dc.contributor.authorKirway, Jeremiah Norbert
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-31T11:59:34Z
dc.date.available2022-10-31T11:59:34Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionPhD-Thesisen_US
dc.description.abstractThe 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.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipCountry Representative of UNFPAen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4768
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSokoine University of Agricultureen_US
dc.subjectHIV/AIDS infectionen_US
dc.subjectWomen entrepreneursen_US
dc.subjectInfection among womenen_US
dc.subjectKyela districten_US
dc.subjectMbeya cityen_US
dc.titleRisk factors associated with HIV/AIDS infection among itinerant women entrepreneurs in Mbeya city and Kyela district, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Kirway,Jeremiah Norbert.pdf
Size:
7.96 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.67 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: