Trends in prevalence of HIV infection: a 4-year review of the general population in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Plateau state is among the HIV hot zones with HIV prevalence above national average and the 6^th state with the highest HIV burden in Nigeria. The study sought to determined the trend of HIV prevalence in the general population and the pattern by age and sex in Plateau state.

Methodology: The study was a 4-year descriptive analysis of the trend in Prevalence of HIV in the general population of Plateau state, Nigeria based on the data generated between January 2012 and December 2015. The data on HIV services were managed through the electronic Nigerian National HIV/AIDS Response Information Management System (eNNRIMS) which was a web-based software. The data analyses were done using excel to obtain the proportions and trend of HIV prevalence in the general population and by year, age and sex.

Results: Out of a total of 495,718 tested for HIV, 30,450 people tested positive, with the highest (13.1%) HIV prevalence recorded in 2012 and the lowest (3.2%) HIV prevalence recorded in 2015. The age groups 25 – 49 years and 50 years and above accounted for higher HIV prevalence, and the female population had higher HIV prevalence for most of the age groups.

Conclusion: The HIV prevalence is on a downward trend with relatively less decline among the older female population in Plateau state.

Keywords: HIV, Prevalence, Infection, Trends, Plateau State