The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Micro-enterprise Development in Kenya: A Study of Obunga Slum in Kisumu

Authors: C. A. Oloo, C. Ojwang

Abstract:

The performances of small and medium enterprises have stagnated in the last two decades. This has mainly been due to the emergence of HIV / Aids. The disease has had a detrimental effect on the general economy of the country leading to morbidity and mortality of the Kenyan workforce in their primary age. The present study sought to establish the economic impact of HIV / Aids on the micro-enterprise development in Obunga slum – Kisumu, in terms of production loss, increasing labor related cost and to establish possible strategies to address the impact of HIV / Aids on microenterprises. The study was necessitated by the observation that most micro-enterprises in the slum are facing severe economic and social crisis due to the impact of HIV / Aids, they get depleted and close down within a short time due to death of skilled and experience workforce. The study was carried out between June 2008 and June 2009 in Obunga slum. Data was subjected to computer aided statistical analysis that included descriptive statistic, chi-squared and ANOVA techniques. Chi-squared analysis on the micro-enterprise owners opinion on the impact of HIV / Aids on depletion of microenterprise compared to other diseases indicated high levels of the negative effects of the disease at significance levels of P<0.01. Analysis of variance on the impact of HIV / Aids on the performance and productivity of micro-enterprises also indicated a negative effect on the general performance of micro-enterprise at significance levels of P<0.01. Therefore reducing the negative impacts of HIV/Aids on micro-enterprise development, there is need to improve the socioeconomic environment, mobilize donors and stake holders in training and funding, and review the current strategies for addressing the disease. Further conclusive research should also be conducted on a bigger scale.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, HIV-AIDS, Micro-enterprise, Poverty.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1079596

References:

[1] P. Achola, "Impact of HIV / Aids on micro-finance". A case study on HIV/Aids Mitigation MEDA. 2000.
[2] J. A. Alade, D. K. Sharma and P. H. Sharma, "The role of microenterprise finance in economic development" Journal of Academy of Business and economics. 2003.
[3] T. Barnet and P. Blaikie "Aids in Africa its present and future impact". London. Belhaven Press. 1992.
[4] T. Benett and A. Whitesand, "Poverty and HIV / Aids: impact, coping and mitigation policy". 2004.
[5] F. D. Cox ," The Aids booklet. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 2000.
[6] R. F. Denzin, "The Research Act. A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods". New York: McGraw-Hill. 1989.
[7] D. Gachuhi, "The Impact of HIV/Aids on Education System in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region". 1999.
[8] ILO, "HIV / Aids; A threat to decent work, productivity and development. A document for discussion at the special High level meeting on HIV/Aids and the world of work". 2000.
[9] K. King, "Micro-economic environment: revisiting Kenya-s (jua kali) sector against the background of formal globalizing economy". New York: McGraw-Hill. 1999.
[10] Kiragu, K. & Zabin, L.S. (1993). The Correlates of Premarital Sexual Activity Among School -Age Adolescents in Kenya International Perspective in Family Planning, vol. 19, No 3.
[11] J. E. Mark "The impact of HIV / Aids on Zambian economy. IMF Nalo, D., Hancock, J., Aoko, M., Mutemi, R., Clark, H., & Forsythe, S. (1996). The Macroeconomic Impact of HIV/ Aids. 2002.
[12] E. Ndemo, "Assessing sustainability of faith-based enterprises in Kenya. International Journal of Social Economics". Vol. 33, issue 5/6. 2006.
[13] W. O. Odek, A. Constigan, E. Ngugi, F. Plummer, M. Oneko and S. Moses, "Benefits of collaboration between HIV/STI prevention projects and micro-enterprises developmentorganizations (MDOs). International conference on Aids. 2000.
[14] H. W. Odiwuor, "The impact of HIV / Aids on Primary Education. A case study on the selected District of Kenya. Institute of International education Stockholm University. 2000.
[15] W. Y. Oso, and D. Onen, "A general guide to writing research proposal and report. A handbook for beginning researchers". Kenya: Option Press. 2005.
[16] C. Shisana and L. Letlape, "The impact of HIV /Aids on the sub-saharan African economy. Commission for Africa. 2004.
[17] Urban Planning Kisumu Municipal Council Statistical Bureau. 2007.
[18] USAID/UNICEF, "Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya: An Overview of Issues and Action to Strengthen Community Care and Support Report of a Combined Assessment of Programming in Kenya for Children and Families Affected by HIV/AIDS".1999.