Patterns of Service Use and Payment Methods for the Treatment of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: A Comparison of Evidence from Household Interview and Exit Survey

Abstract

This study examined patterns of service use and payment methods for HIV/AIDS treatment using evidence from two data sources. The paper also  compares the convergence of evidence from a household and exit survey among persons living with HIV/AIDS. The study was undertaken in Akwa Ibom,  Anambra and Adamawa states in south-south, south-east and north-east geopolitical zones of Nigeria respectively. Using a household survey and an exit  interview, questionnaires were administered to persons living with HIV who were 18 years and above. The health seeking patterns and payment methods  were analysed. The findings showed some differences and similarities. In the exit survey, elicited check-up appointments were predominantly  three monthly (35.5%) while about half (49.2%) of respondents from the household survey were on two monthly visits. During actual hospital visits,  almost all respondents from exit (96.9%) and household survey (95.1%) received routine drugs for HIV/AIDS as appropriate. Out-of-pocket spending was  the main method of payment in the two surveys. Variations exist across states in the patterns of treatment seeking and payment methods for HIV/AIDS  but the overall findings from household and exit survey yield similar patterns. Hence, either of the methods may be used in a similar setting to obtain  valid responses. However, innovative interventions are needed to reduce the incidence of opportunistic infections to limit the additional burden of  hospitalization to patients.