Cultural factors and traditional practices of the people In Delta State about HIV/AIDS pandemic

Abstract

This study examined the cultural factors and traditional practices of the people in Delta State of Nigeria about HIV/AIDS pandemic. The research design was a descriptive survey. To guide the study, three research questions were raised and answered and two research hypotheses were formulated at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study consisted of all patients of general outpatient department of the government hospitals in south and north senatorial district of Delta state of Nigeria. The instrument was a questionnaire, the face and content validity were ascertained by some medical practitioners in the hospitals and experts in the field of counselling psychology. The Reliability of the instrument was determined, using the Cronbach Alpha and it yield the value of 0.86, ascertaining the internal consistency. The findings revealed that; there are prevailing attitude, beliefs and myths surrounding HIV/AIDS by the people in Delta south and north senatorial districts. The people are also conversant with voluntary counselling, testing and antiretroviral therapy. There are also both negative and positive impacts of socio-economic and educational background on HIV/AID respectively. It was therefore concluded that Cultural and traditional practices are prevalence in Delta state. These practices have positive impact on the educated patients and that the disease is been treated with less than honest approach by the populace in Delta state. This may spell doom for the community if not check. It was recommended that the DELSACA and NGOs (IPS) in Delta State should educate patients and the general public through electronic and mass media about HIV/AIDS among others.