“Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya
Abstract Background Due to high-risk sexual networks along their transit routes, Long-distance truckers’ (LDTs) risk of HIV is known to be high, as evidenced by prevalence rates of 14.34% in the region. Besides, the spaces in which LDTs operate are often marred with a multitude of barriers to HIV/AI...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582251328814 |
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| author | Cyrus Mutie MSc Kawira Kithuci PhD John Gachohi PhD Grace Mbuthia PhD |
| author_facet | Cyrus Mutie MSc Kawira Kithuci PhD John Gachohi PhD Grace Mbuthia PhD |
| author_sort | Cyrus Mutie MSc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to high-risk sexual networks along their transit routes, Long-distance truckers’ (LDTs) risk of HIV is known to be high, as evidenced by prevalence rates of 14.34% in the region. Besides, the spaces in which LDTs operate are often marred with a multitude of barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction. However, there is limited evidence on the barriers encountered by LDTs in Kenya, hence the need for the current study. Methods and Methodology We used nine key informants and 18 in-depth interviews from purposively sampled participants, such as nurses and LDT peer educators at Kenya's Busia and Namanga international border points. We used semi-structured interview guides to collect data through audio records. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed using the QDA-Miner software to generate themes and sub-themes around barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction among LDTs. Findings Overall, three themes, namely, health system, individual-level, and trucking career-related barriers emerged. The sub-themes under health system barriers included the location of healthcare facilities far from transit routes, long durations of hospital waiting time, and lack of targeted health facilities for LDTs, among several others. Under trucking career-related barriers, the sub-themes comprised tight work schedules, unfavourable trucking career policies, and insecurity along transit routes. For individual barriers, some of the sub-themes were language barriers and lack of awareness of current HIV/AIDS risk reduction services. Conclusion Alongside health system factors, individual level and trucking career-related factors were highlighted as the barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction among LDTs in Kenya. The existence of these barriers may complicate the fight against the pandemic in this hard-to-reach population, given their already known vulnerability to HIV infections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-154fb75bc6284d0cb94fe8b55f90a40c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2325-9582 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-154fb75bc6284d0cb94fe8b55f90a40c2025-08-20T03:40:24ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care2325-95822025-03-012410.1177/23259582251328814“Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in KenyaCyrus Mutie MSc0Kawira Kithuci PhD1John Gachohi PhD2Grace Mbuthia PhD3 Department of Nursing Education, Leadership, Management and Research, , Thika, Kenya Department of Nursing Education, Leadership, Management and Research, , Nairobi, Kenya Paul G, Allen School of Global Health, , Pullman, USA Department of Community Health Nursing, , Nairobi, KenyaAbstract Background Due to high-risk sexual networks along their transit routes, Long-distance truckers’ (LDTs) risk of HIV is known to be high, as evidenced by prevalence rates of 14.34% in the region. Besides, the spaces in which LDTs operate are often marred with a multitude of barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction. However, there is limited evidence on the barriers encountered by LDTs in Kenya, hence the need for the current study. Methods and Methodology We used nine key informants and 18 in-depth interviews from purposively sampled participants, such as nurses and LDT peer educators at Kenya's Busia and Namanga international border points. We used semi-structured interview guides to collect data through audio records. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed using the QDA-Miner software to generate themes and sub-themes around barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction among LDTs. Findings Overall, three themes, namely, health system, individual-level, and trucking career-related barriers emerged. The sub-themes under health system barriers included the location of healthcare facilities far from transit routes, long durations of hospital waiting time, and lack of targeted health facilities for LDTs, among several others. Under trucking career-related barriers, the sub-themes comprised tight work schedules, unfavourable trucking career policies, and insecurity along transit routes. For individual barriers, some of the sub-themes were language barriers and lack of awareness of current HIV/AIDS risk reduction services. Conclusion Alongside health system factors, individual level and trucking career-related factors were highlighted as the barriers to HIV/AIDS risk reduction among LDTs in Kenya. The existence of these barriers may complicate the fight against the pandemic in this hard-to-reach population, given their already known vulnerability to HIV infections.https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582251328814 |
| spellingShingle | Cyrus Mutie MSc Kawira Kithuci PhD John Gachohi PhD Grace Mbuthia PhD “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care |
| title | “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya |
| title_full | “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya |
| title_short | “Even Though He Had Expressed Willingness to Take PrEP, He Declined When He Noticed the Drugs Were Packed in a Container Like That of ARVs”: Exploring Barriers to HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Among Long-Distance Truckers in Kenya |
| title_sort | even though he had expressed willingness to take prep he declined when he noticed the drugs were packed in a container like that of arvs exploring barriers to hiv aids risk reduction among long distance truckers in kenya |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582251328814 |
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