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JOURNAL OF GENDER, INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (JGIDA) Volume 2, Numbers 1 & 2, 2013

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ISSN : 2050-4284 (Online), 2050-4276 (Print)

Table of Contents :

Social Work Services in Kenya
Dr. Valerie McDuffie, Dr. Cathy McElderry, Dr. Charnetta Gadling-Cole 7

This article focuses on the global context of HIV with a focus on Kenya. The following issues are discussed: (a) Global context of HIV/AIDS, (b) HIV/AIDS in Africa: Prevalence and Impact; (c) HIV/AIDS in Kenya: Prevalence and Severity; (d) Effects of HIV/AIDS on health care and traditional forms of care; (e) Programs, Strategies and Initiatives for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; and (f) Evaluation of the HIV/AIDS programs. The conclusion suggests a need for evidenced based practices that can effectively be utilized to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in a developing country.

Gender Based Violence Among HIV Positive Women in Kenya
Dr. Cathy McElderry, Dr. Sharon Brown, Justin Wright, Prof. Pauline Jolly, Charnetta Gadling-Cole25

Women who test HIV positive have been shown to fear disclosing their status to their partners lest they face physical violence due to an assumption that a positive result is indicative of promiscuity. The extent to which gender based violence occurs among women who become HIV positive in Kenya is not known. The present study has explored the extent of gender-based violence among HIV positive women attending Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC). The study has also examined the association between gender based violence, HIV seropositive status, and the risk of violence associated with requests for male sexual partners to use condoms during intercourse. Women who were aged between 18 and 69 years, and who had been sexually active for the past 6 months with 1 sexual partner were recruited for this study upon providing informed consent, and were placed into a focus groups consisting of 8-10 women each. The focus group discussions were designed to assess issues related to gender based violence on women, and were implemented over the course of 1 month. Each focus group was facilitated by 1 trained moderator who was assisted by 2 note takers, and was audio recorded. A structured questionnaire was administered to each woman and a disclosure of their informed consent. The interview conducted examined HIV disclosure, sexual behaviors, reproductive practices, and abuse assessment. Women who screened positive for intimate partner violence were referred to the “Working Mothers with HIV and AIDs in Kenya (WOMAHAVIK)” organization for counseling and assistance. Women who revealed harmful situations were referred to the AIDS and Equity Tribunal, based at the National AIDS Control Unit that offers counseling, legal and other services. This study was largely descriptive.

Sandra L. Karumberia, Brian M. Ogendi, Dr. Charnetta Cole 47

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision is recognized worldwide (Eliminating female genital mutilation: an interagency statement [Eliminating], 2008). This paper reviews, defines and elucidates FGM, while discussing some health implications. Although, FGM/C is outlawed and forbidden in most countries the law is not strictly enforced. FGM/C has gained a lot of enquiry from organizations, legislators and activists. It was initially challenged as a shortfall but has gained a lot of recognition on women’s health and empowerment as well as international human rights. (Shell-Duncan & Hernlund, 2000). An ongoing process carried out by governments, national and international organizations has been ongoing so as to eradicating FGM. This has resulted in a reduction in the prevalence of FGM/C in some areas (Eliminating, 2008).

Healthcare Infrastructure: Deciphering the Spread of Ebola in West Africa
Daniel Upchurch, Donna Gibson McCrary63

West Africa has a rapidly growing population with inadequate infrastructure and relatively high health risks. The Ebola virus has affected Guinea and other densely populated countries. The spread of this infectious epidemic is primarily due in part to the harsh slow response from government officials and the lack of preparation within urban cities. A robust healthcare system is strongly needed in West Africa and other neighboring countries. In addition, the acquisition of beds, protective equipment, more healthcare scholars, dead-body management teams and funding are the pillars for containing and eradicating Ebola and other infectious diseases.

Gender and Democracy in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of Women Participation in the Federal Legislature
Emmanuel Onyebuchi Ezeani, Christian Chukwuebuka Ezeibe 77

This article explores the issue of women participation in politics in Nigeria with a special focus on the National Assembly from 1999 to 2011. Adopting Marxist feminism as its theoretical framework of analysis and documentary method of data collection, our findings are that: (i) politics in Nigeria has been predominantly a male affair; the number of women in elective positions still falls far below the target of the 35% Affirmative Action Committee representation of women in elective posts by 2005 and (ii) despite the relatively insignificant number of women in Nigerian legislature, available data shows a constant increase of about 2.3% of women voted into the National Assembly at every general election since 1999. The article argues that contemporary gender inequality in political participation in Nigeria is determined ultimately by the capitalist mode of production and not by socio-cultural and biological factors as most scholars tend to argue.

[abstract]


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