Abstract
Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding Human Immuno-deficiency Virus /Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one of the cornerstones in the fight against the disease. Construction workers and adjacent communities are vulnerable to infection because they are likely to engage in risky practices due to lack of adequate knowledge and information, compounded by other socio-economic and cultural factors. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV/AIDS among road construction workers and adjacent communities on the Mwache Junction Tsunza-Mteza Section road construction project (MPARDP2) in Kwale County of the Kenyan Coast.A cross-sectional descriptive study using both qualitative and quantitative research methods was carried out. Study tools were a structured self-administered questionnaire for construction workers, a structured questionnaire for households and an FGD guide for focus group discussions. The results showed that the correct knowledge on HIV/AIDS for both construction workers and household respondents was high (87 % and 81% respectively). Further, it was established that communities have misconceptions about general knowledge on transmission, use of condoms, testing and what constitutes risk. The study concludes that more effort needs to be made to provide HIV/AIDS awareness prevention campaign and training to both construction workers and the adjacent communities. Specifically, there is a need to explore effective strategies for changing attitudes towards prevention of HIV/AIDS particularly in the community. Further, there should be a sustainable HIV/AIDS awareness prevention campaign and training program for the road construction workers and the adjacent communities.
Key words: HIV/AIDS, KAP, Condom, Prevention, Construction Workers, Respondents.