PSK HIV QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE ENABLERS AND BARRIERS TO UPTAKE OF SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES: A study of Turkana, Nakuru, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya and Migori counties in Kenya

The study aimed to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the adoption of sexual health services, including Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision (VMMC), consistent condom use, and HIV testing services. The study employed a qualitative research design, involving Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Journey Maps/Mapping. A total of 150 participants were recruited from the six study sites, including community members, healthcare providers, and program implementers. The data collection process was guided by the Health, Illness, Men, Masculinities (HIMM) Framework, which provides a conceptual framework for understanding the social and cultural determinants of health. The study findings indicate that VMMC is a critical intervention for HIV prevention, but its uptake is hindered by various barriers, including lack of awareness, fear of pain, and cultural and social norms. Enablers of VMMC uptake include community support, healthcare provider encouragement, and access to VMMC services. The study also highlights the importance of communication channels, such as community outreach and mass media campaigns, in promoting VMMC uptake. Consistent condom use is another critical aspect of sexual health, but its adoption is hindered by various barriers, including lack of access to condoms, fear of condom use, and cultural and social norms. Enablers of consistent condom use include community support, healthcare provider encouragement, and access to condoms. The study also highlights the importance of communication channels, such as community outreach and mass media campaigns, in promoting consistent condom use. HIV testing services are critical for HIV prevention and management, but their uptake is hindered by various barriers, including lack of awareness, fear of testing, and cultural and social norms. Enablers of HIV testing services include community support, healthcare provider encouragement, and access to HIV testing services. The study also highlights the importance of communication channels, such as community outreach and mass media campaigns, in promoting HIV testing services. The study concludes that the uptake of sexual health services, including VMMC, consistent condom use, and HIV testing services, is influenced by a complex array of factors, including community support, healthcare provider encouragement, access to services, and communication channels. The study recommends that program implementers and policymakers prioritize community engagement, healthcare provider training, and communication channel development to promote the uptake of sexual health services.