An assessment on community-targeted HIV intervention efforts in typical community settings in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed community targeted intervention efforts (CTIEs) to combat HIV infection in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. The stratified random sampling technique was adopted. Research questions highlighted concerns about awareness, policy designs/implementations, and stakeholder‘s commitment/sincerity, among other factors influencing the progress or otherwise, in the fight against HIV infection in Ekpoma. Hypothetical postulations considered the possible negative (Ho) or positive (H1) relationship between the ages, education, gender and level of engagements of the respondents with the appraised CTIEs. Data were collected from five settings – Academic, Christian, farming, Market and Muslim communities, using a well-structured and self-administered questionnaire. Two hundred residents [40 per community (20 males and 20 females) respectively], were recruited; though only 197 completed the questionnaires. The results revealed high level of awareness on HIV, dissatisfaction with intervention efforts, systemic corruption and a positive correlation of age, gender, marital status, and respondent‘s level of engagement, with the appraised CTIEs, but not with education. While also advocating for community driven HIV preventive strategies as an effective alternative, it is safe to conclude that there exist various community based platforms in typical Nigerian settings that can serve as anchors for CTIEs on one hand, and as feed-back ‗buttons‘ on the other.