Main Article Content
Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behavioural Practices for Creating Awareness about HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: The number of people in the world living with HIV is estimated to be 40 million, with 23.3 million in sub-Saharan Africa. New infections with HIV are occurring at the rate of almost 16,000 every day and 6 million every year. The majority of those infections occur in people under age 25. In Nigeria, national prevalence of HIV in 1999 was 5.4% and an estimated 2.6 million Nigerians age 15-49 were infected. In 2001, the prevalence was 5.8%. In Lagos state it was 7.4% in 2001.
Objectives: This study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices of the people of Lagos State concerning HIV/AIDS
Methodology: 6, 144 persons aged 18 years and above were sampled from 116 wards randomly selected from the 20 Local Government Areas in the state. Pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaires were administered on these persons.
Results: 96% of the respondents affirmed that they had heard of HIV/AIDS prior to the study. 73.7% got information on HIV from radio/TV while 28.3% got from friends. In spite of the significant representation of students in the sample population (20%), only 4.5% got informed in schools. Also, only 4.6% got information from health facilities. Sexual relationship was rightly identified as a major route of HIV infection by 79.5% of the respondents. Only 30.4% of the sampled respondents will relate to PLWA as normal human beings. 93.2% of the sampled population believed that AIDS is real and exists in Nigeria. Only 38.4% of the respondents use condoms regularly. It is concluded that radio and television are a potent tool of dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS. There is little awareness creation among in-school secondary school students.
Conclusion and recommendations: Behavior change interventions should focus on condom use and other risk reduction practices. Stigma reduction activities towards PLWA should be intensified.
Key Words: Knowledge, Beliefs, HIV, Practices, Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol.44(1) 2003: 7-10
Objectives: This study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices of the people of Lagos State concerning HIV/AIDS
Methodology: 6, 144 persons aged 18 years and above were sampled from 116 wards randomly selected from the 20 Local Government Areas in the state. Pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaires were administered on these persons.
Results: 96% of the respondents affirmed that they had heard of HIV/AIDS prior to the study. 73.7% got information on HIV from radio/TV while 28.3% got from friends. In spite of the significant representation of students in the sample population (20%), only 4.5% got informed in schools. Also, only 4.6% got information from health facilities. Sexual relationship was rightly identified as a major route of HIV infection by 79.5% of the respondents. Only 30.4% of the sampled respondents will relate to PLWA as normal human beings. 93.2% of the sampled population believed that AIDS is real and exists in Nigeria. Only 38.4% of the respondents use condoms regularly. It is concluded that radio and television are a potent tool of dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS. There is little awareness creation among in-school secondary school students.
Conclusion and recommendations: Behavior change interventions should focus on condom use and other risk reduction practices. Stigma reduction activities towards PLWA should be intensified.
Key Words: Knowledge, Beliefs, HIV, Practices, Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol.44(1) 2003: 7-10
