The general objective of this study was to examine the communication determinants
for condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County,
Kenya. Specifically, this study sought to find out the influence of knowledge levels
of HIV and AIDS on condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the youth in
Kilifi County; establish the influence of behavioural intention on condom use for HIV
and AIDS prevention among the youth in Kilifi County; explain the influence of
environmental constraints on condom use for HIV and AIDS prevention among the
youth in Kilifi County ; assess the influence of saliency on HIV and AIDS and
condom use for prevention of HIV and AIDS among the youth in Kilifi County and
to analyze the influence of skills and competency on condom use that determine
condom use among the youth in Kilifi County. The study was informed by the
Integrated Behavioural Model, which indicates the determinants for health behaviour
change to include the intention to perform a behaviour, knowledge level, skills and
competency to perform the behaviour, saliency of the behaviour and environmental
factors. The study used a mixed method design, relying mainly on descriptive survey
to cross-sectionally study the youth and other HIV and AIDS specialists in Kilifi
North Sub-County using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD) and
questionnaires. A total of 390 participants were studied, of which 384 respondents
were selected using systematic random sampling method and issued with
questionnaires. Qualitative data were collected from six focus groups voluntarily
drawn from the learning institutions, and from a total of six HIV and AIDs
programme specialists drawn from the NGOs and CBOs in the sub-county for indepth
interview. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the

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Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlations, while qualitative data in themes were used
for triangulation purposes. Results showed that the youth in Kilifi had high
knowledge of HIV and AIDS and condom use. Additionally, findings revealed that
condom use among the youth was positively determined by skills and competencies,
behavioral intentions, Saliency and knowledge, in order of importance. However,
environmental constraints had a negative effect on condom use behavior among youth
in Kilifi County. The study concluded that without behavioral intentions, skills and
competency and saliency, the high knowledge level does not automatically lead to
behavior change to use condoms for HIV prevention among the youth. The findings
confirm the position of four constructs of the integrated behavioral model as positive
promoters of behavior change. The study recommends interpersonal communication
as effective in bridging the knowledge-behavior gap among the youth for effective
behavior change.