02 December 2009 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: The cultural beliefs and practices in Kenya surrounding sex and sexuality have proven to be barriers for those working to lessen HIV prevalence in the country. Now, Internews, an international media development agency, is coming to the aid of local journalists to combat these beliefs, raise awareness about practices that spread HIV, and jumpstart the fight against the virus.

In Kenya, as in other African countries, polygamy is an ongoing practice among both men and women. Kenya’s “meko tatu,” or “three stones,” practice in which women have three relationships at once is still popular, especially among the Mijikenda coastal tribes. Women rely on their multiple partners for different needs, such as clothing, grooming, and income; the way to gain these necessities is through sex. This being the case, the agency has begun to train six Kenyan journalists, providing them with the knowledge that meko tatu, and similar culturally accepted practices, must be discontinued in order to stop HIV from spreading to more of the population.

Ida Jooste, country director for Internews in Kenya, told MediaGlobal, “In examining the various transmission modes and prevention strategies for HIV, we came to realize that A B (Abstinence and Be Faithful) messages can be a challenge, but not just for the obvious reason that people like sex. In certain communities, the calls to ‘be faithful’ or ‘be abstinent’ have to be seen against a wider backdrop of polygamy. This is how we came to identify communities where polygamy and other sexual practices need to form part of the lens through which one views prevention.”

As far as the media’s role is concerned, Jooste explained, “Through training and mentoring practicing journalists (working for a variety of media houses), we facilitate the telling of stories. We will encourage journalists to continue to explore this theme, thereby reaching the Kenyan public.” While Jooste attested that, presently, “there is no proof that such media stories will overcome cultural barriers,” nevertheless “such stories create awareness in a step-by-step fashion over time.” Since culture has an impact on sexuality throughout Africa, Jooste said “it is likely” that the project will be carried out elsewhere on the continent in the future.

To date, the agency has HIV media projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

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Original article on Media Global