Determining the Effect of Voluntary Participation in Communicating with PLHIV in Siaya County, Kenya

Purpose: This research aimed to determine 1the effect 1of voluntary participation 1in communicating with PLHIV 1in 1Siaya, 1Kenya. Methodology: This study utilized a 1descriptive research approach and 1inferential 1design through a 1field survey, employing two distinct 1sets of questionnaires. One was administered 1to the key informant and the other to Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).1Spearman's 1rho 1correlations 1and simple linear1regression1models were also applied to assess the association between voluntary engagement as 1the independent variable and communication as the 1dependent 1variable. ANOVA 1test 1was also performed 1to test the hypothesis 1and results were 1presented 1in 1tables. Findings: The study comprised a sample size of 376 individuals, constituting 96.18% of willing respondents who agreed to participate in 1interviews. Seventeen unresponsive records were excluded from the analysis. A Normality 1Test was conducted to assess whether the study sample was drawn from a population with a normal distribution. Under the 1null 1hypothesis, no significant difference was found between the sample and the population it represented. Consequently, there was substantial evidence to reject the 1null 1hypothesis and accept the 1alternative 1hypothesis (p-value=0.000 CI=95%). Moreover, the findings revealed that 82.30% voluntarily enrolled in the 1Text 1for 1Adherence (T4A) 1mobile 1app, 70.71% signed the consent form, and 6.07% indicated that 1consent was implied. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study extends 1Technology readiness theory studies to mhealth field where it is beginning to gain traction. It also indicates the significance of individuals willingly participating in mHealth interventions upon enrollment. Voluntary participation is an imperative condition of any research undertaking. This study's results additionally confirmed that mHealth interventions enhance the well-being of individuals managing chronic illnesses. This study is likely to inform policy changes and or amendments in the mhealth space in many jurisdictions. An 1intervention 1such 1as 1Text for1Adherence (1T4A) may encourage 1the 1government 1to support system developers. It can also take over the project as a public health investment instead of leaving it to private sector or non-governmental organizations. Study further extends the body of knowledge in use of mhealth interventions.