Abstract:
HIV/AIDS knowledge in Kenya is universal in that 99% of both male and female have heard of the epidemic and
how it can be avoided. Despite the widespread knowledge of HIV/AIDS, comprehensive HIV knowledge which refers to one
being able to correctly identify the modes of HIV transmission and reject the most common misconception about HIV
transmission among the youths, is just above average, 65% for males and 54% for females. There seems to be lack of
information on the effects of the determinants of comprehensive HIV knowledge among the youths. This study, using KDHS
2014 data, investigates the effect of the relationship between condoms use and comprehensive HIV knowledge among the
youths in Kenya. A logistic regression model is used to explore the effects of relationship between condoms usage and
comprehensive HIV knowledge among the youths. Comprehensive HIV knowledge among the youths aged 15-19 was 12.9%
while those aged 20-24 was 87.1% and on average 55.5%. Significant association was found between consistent use of
condoms during the first sexual intercourse and comprehensive HIV knowledge with a p-value < 0.001. 78.8% of the youths
consistently use condoms during their first sexual intercourse. Interestingly, results showed that condoms use have no effect on
comprehensive HIV knowledge which means there are other factors that influence comprehensive HIV knowledge that seems
to suppress the effect of condoms use. Nevertheless, much intervention among the youths aged 15-19 should be considered to
increase the level of comprehensive HIV knowledge. Further research need to be conducted to determine the effect of the
relationships between other correlates of comprehensive HIV knowledge among the youths in Kenya.
