ABSTRACT

The study was carried in Kyamuswa Sub County, Kalangala district. It was carried out to analyze how Gender Relations influence the Spread of HIV/AIDS among Fishing Communities. The study used an exploratory research design to describe how gender relations influence the spread of HIV AIDS in the fishing communities of Kyamuswa Sub county, Kalangala district. The study population included Fisher folk, local council leaders, Beach Management Units, Community Development Officer, Sub county chiefs and health workers. A sample of 300 respondents was selected using simple random, and purposive sampling research methods. Data was collected using interview guides and questionnaires from both primary and secondary sources. Collected data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively and presented in form of tables, pie charts and photographs. The study investigated the economic activities of fisher folk and how they influence the spread of HIV/AIDS. These activities included fishing, drying mukene, deep frying, retail shops, video clubs, restaurants and smoking fish. Among the effects of HIV/AIDS to fishermen included loss of labour, death, inadequate food, reduction in fish catch, selling assets for medical care among others. The study revealed that women in the fishing communities of Kalangala were perceived as physically and sexually weak, economically disadvantaged, illiterate, prohibited from fishing as it is regarded as a taboo for them to carryout fishing, weak in decision making and money hungry all of which increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The study suggested on what should be done to improve the status of women including need to educate girl child, electing women to leadership positions on Local Councils, Beach management units, improving the quality of government services. Training women on different skills and extend credit services near to women. Basing on high incidence of HIV/AIDS and its effects to fishermen, the study recommended that the government should fight poverty in fishing communities, invest in preventing infection, address the social economic disadvantage of women, improving the life of people living in fishing communities, and sensitize the fishermen on dangers of HIV/AIDS and control measures available.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL H

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS vii

ABSTRACT viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background to the study I

L2 Statement of problem 3

1.3 Objective of the study 4

1.4 Research questions 4

1.5 Scope of the study 4

1.6 Significance of the study 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0 Introduction 6

2.1 Socio-demographic characteristics and HIV/AIDs 6

2.2 Community Perception of women in fishing communities 7

2.3 Economic activities of men and women in fishing communities 8

2.4 Gender relations on the spread of HIV/AIDS 10

2.5 The effects of the increasing HIV/AIDS 14

2.6 Strategies of improving the status of women in fishing communities 18

2.6 Conceptual framework 20

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 21

3.1 Introduction 21

3.2 Research design 21

3.3 The scope of the study 21

3.3.1 The area scope 21

3.4 Sample selection 21

3.5 Procedure for getting the data 23

3.6 Data collection 23

3.7 Data analysis 24

3.8 Ethical considerations 24

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CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 25

4.0 Introduction 25

4.1 Bio data 25

4.1.1 Sex 25

4.1.2 Age 26

4.2 Community Perception of women in Fishing Communities 28

4.3 Economic activities on fishing sites 31

4.4 Effects of HIV /AIDS in fishing communities 34

4.5 Possible Measures to Improve the Status /Community Perception of Women. 36

4. 6 Suggested measures to control HIV/AIDS in fishing communities 36

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS

AND CONCLUSION 39

5.0 Introduction 39

5.1 Summary 39

5.2 Recommendation 40

REFERENCES 42

APPENDIX1: QUESTIONNAIRE 43

APPENDIX II: INTER VIEW GUIDE 45