THE PROVISION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HIV/AIDS POSITIVE STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA: A CASE OF RIFT-VALLEY PROVINCE

Substantial progress has been achieved in our understanding of the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) since the Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first reported in 1981 in the United States of America. In its second decade, the scourge is spreading quietly and fast and no cure has been found. There are about 200,000 new infections everyday. HIV/AIDS would kill 30% of the learners in African countries before they can offer beneficial services to their communities. The only way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS is through attitudinal and behavioral changes as well as management that can be secured effectively through education. Despite the fact that more than 90% awareness has been created among the youth, a comprehensive behavior change strategy is yet to be realized. This study was carried out in five primary teacher-training institutions in the Rift -valley province of Kenya. The study adopted a survey design. The purpose of the study was to; examine the psychological, economic and social effects of HIV/AIDS that have necessitated the establishment of psychosocial support services to the HIV/AIDS positive learners in Tertiary institutions, To establish the psychosocial support systems that are in place, To determine the challenges faced by the institutions in the provision of these psychosocial support services to the HIV/AIDS positive learners. The study findings revealed that the psychological, economic and social effects of HIV/AIDS are vast and that varied institutions have several psychosocial support systems in place though they face challenges in their endeavor to provide these services. The study concluded that the psychosocial support systems are essential in every tertiary institution of learning and recommended that the youth should be fully involved in the provision of these psychosocial support systems. The tertiary institutions can lead the way as the other institutions follow.