Ngima Lawo

Ngima Lawo is a funky, Luo programme broadcast aimed at the youth in Western Kenya.  It has been highly effective at transferring knowledge to the young, on issues relating to transmission of HIV.  Specifically,

Item Baseline % Follow-up %
Knows that male circumcision helps prevent HIV transmission 88.9 95.3
Knows that male circumcision reduces transmission of HIV from female to male by about 60% 6.8 51.1***
Knows scientific reason why circumcision reduces probability of female to male transmission 25.9 34.5
Knows that circumcision does not mean that a man is protected from HIV 76.7 87.0
Knows that building of ‘Simba’ can lead to HIV transmission 45.5 51.7
Knows sexual cleansing of widows can lead to HIV transmission 62.5 66.7
Knows ceremonies associated with the agricultural calendar can lead to HIV transmission 51.1 55.2
Knows meaning of ‘unprotected sex’ 66.7 77.0
Knows effectiveness of properly-used condom against HIV/STI transmission to be 90% to 95% 42.0 39.8
Knows what a VCT centre is 67.4 86.4**
Aware of youth-friendly VCT services 43.2 45.5
Knowing that if partner is HIV+, not necessary that I am HIV+ too 77.3 83.0

Of the 12 knowledge questions in the above table, 11 showed increases in the proportions of youth giving correct answers, with two results being highly significant. The proportions of young people knowing that male circumcision reduced female to male HIV transmission by 60% showed a very marked change, reflecting the emphasis on male circumcision in the early programming. Much higher levels of knowledge of what a VCT centre is are also apparent from Table 8.

Using the indicator questions and scoring system described earlier, the figures below show, by sex, the changes in aggregate knowledge scores by the four thematic areas covered by the first cycle of Ngima Ilawo.

Changes in knowledge scores – Male Circumcision

mj_barchart_v2e

Changes in knowledge scores – Condoms

mj_barchart_v2f

Changes in knowledge scores – Luo Cultural Practices

mj_barchart_v2g

Changes in knowledge scores – VCT

mj_barchart_v2g

Highest changes in knowledge scores can be seen for male circumcision. Females’ knowledge, at lower levels than male at baseline, tends to show relatively greater change than males.

Knowledge of the beneficial effects of male circumcision increased dramatically, as is epitomized by the high proportions of youth citing correctly the quantitative protective effect of the practice.

Knowledge of condoms was already high for males at baseline, but, oddly, the programming seems to have had little impact on reported female knowledge, with the aggregate knowledge score actually dropping slightly at follow-up.

Knowledge of the effects of Luo Cultural Practices on HIV transmission showed modest gains for both males and females, but was still considerably below maximum possible levels.

Knowledge of VCT improved significantly for females, to a level where the male and female scores have become identical.

Figure 5 amalgamates the scores from all four themes and shows changes by sex and age group between baseline and follow-up.