Publication: Mitigating HIV risk linked to disco funerals in Western Kenya
Date
2025
Authors
Mwalili, S.
Gathungu, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University Press
Abstract
Disco funerals (“disco matanga”) are culturally significant events in western Kenya but create high-risk settings for HIV transmission through factors such as overnight travel, alcohol use, and transactional or coerced sex. A mathematical modelling study using EMOD-HIV estimated that disco funerals contributed 7.8% of HIV infections between 1980 and 2024, peaking at 9.9% in 2004. Future projections (2025–2050) show that biomedical prevention (PrEP), biobehavioural interventions (condom use, reduced partners), and structural approaches (female empowerment) could avert 9.7%, 2.9%, and 1.2% of new HIV infections, respectively. This policy brief highlights urgent policy options to integrate culturally tailored HIV interventions within funeral practices in Kenya to reduce HIV transmission.
Keywords: Disco funerals, HIV transmission, biomedical prevention, behavioural intervention, structural approaches
Description
Prof. Samuel Mwalili is a statistician and mathematical modeller and Adjunct Professor at Strathmore University, Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS). His research focuses on infectious disease dynamics, including HIV and COVID-19. He has contributed to Kenya’s national epidemic modelling and forecasting efforts.
Dr. Duncan Gathungu is a researcher in applied mathematics and computational modelling. His work centres on numerical methods and the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, with publications examining the effectiveness of social distancing and other public-health interventions in Kenya.