Perception of Agricultural Produce Transporters about HIV/AIDS in Selected Rural Community Markets in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the perception of produce transporters about the mode of contracting, preventing and control measures of HIV/AIDS in selected rural community markets in Ondo State, Nigeria. Nine community markets were purposively selected for the study based on availability of farm produce transporters in each of the rural community market. On the whole, 150 respondents were involved in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data collected, while inferential statistics, such as correlation was used to test the hypothesis set. Analysis showed that the average age of the respondents was 44, with standard deviation of 15. The respondents have perception about the fact that having many sexual partners can increase the risk of having HIV/AIDS (X=4.63), that abstinence from any kind of sexual intercourse prevents HIV/AIDS(X=4.49) and that HIV/AIDS can be controlled by promotion of healthy relationships and educational programmes in social and educational institutions(X=4.60). Analysis also showed that social organization (r=0.222:p≤0.05), years of formal education (r=0.479:p≤0.01) have significant relationships with the transporters’ perception about mode of contracting, preventing and controlling of HIV/AIDS. Also, age (r=-0.188:p≤0.05), household size(r=-0.245≤0.01) have significant relationship with their perception about the mode of contracting, preventing and control measures of HIV/AIDS and the relationship is inverse. The conclusion made from this study was that age, social organisation, years of formal education, household size of the produce transporters determine their perception about their mode of contracting, preventing and control measures of HIV/AIDS. This study recommended that more enlightened programmes be organized at public places and in mass media.