INVESTIGATIVE STUDY INTO THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF HIV/AIDS AMONG ADULTS IN ODODE IDANRE, IDANRE LGA.

This project was carried out to investigate the knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDs among people of Odode Idanre. The research was carried out in order to increase the people level of health education and create knowledge and awareness about the effects of HIV/AIDs on health of the people within the community. The information about the research topic was gathered through the distribution of one twenty (120) questionnaires of which one hundred and fifteen(115)  were retrieved and also through existing health records. A random sampling was used and all data collected were analyzed in a tabular form using percentage and frequency. From the data collected it was indicated that the people of Ododo-Idanre were knowledgeable about HIV and AIDs as 97.39% of the respondents have heard about HIV. However, few people 1.74% did not know or believed that HIV exist as they have not heard about it. Also, from the information gathered 9.57% of the people perceived that HIV can be gotten through shaking of hands,13.04% through mosquitoes bite and sharing of clothes while 53.04% (indicating majority of the people) did not believe or have the idea that HIV can be transmitted through breastfeeding. From existing records from 2020 (Jan-Dec) to 2021 (Jan-Dec) there was 1.69% increase in of HIV among the people. Therefore, health workers should continue to intensify health education programme to the people and also the government should provide adequate availability of medications for HIV/AIDs people with adequate use of medium to spread awareness and health campaign.   

Title                                                                                           Page

Abstract                                                                                       vi            

Table of contents                                                                    vii-ix

List of tables                                                                        x-xi            

Abstract                                                                                                                                                                               

Literature review                                                                           7

Human Immuno Deficiency Virus                                           8

Causes of HIV                                                                     10-11

Risk prevention                                                               14-15

Discussion, conclusion and recommendation

Table 1: Age range from the respondents                                                          23        

Table 2: Gender of the respondents                                                                   24

Table 3: Marital status of the respondent                                                           24    

Table 4: Educational status of the respondents                                                  25  

Table 5: The occupational status of the respondents                                          25

Table 6: The religion of participants                                                                   26

Table 7: Number of respondents that have heard above HIV/AIDS                   26  

Table 8: Respondents source of information                                                        27

Table 9: Respondents opinion on how can HIV/AIDS be prevented                     27

Table 10: Respondents, response on where to get information on HIV prevention28 

Table 11: Respondents on method they felt is so good and should be encouraged 28

Table 12: Respondents response on exact method they felt is so good and should be encouraged                                                                                                               29  

Table 13: Respondents response on route that can transmit HIV AIDS                29

Table 14: Respondents response on the believe that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through breastfeeding                                                                                            30 

Table 15: Respondents opinion on whether the teaching of sex education prevent or reduce the Incidence of HIV/AIDS among youths                                            30

Table 16: Respondents that have been tested for HIV                                        31

Table 17: Showing the existing health records on cases of prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Odode Idanre LGA from 2020-2021.         31

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has emerged as the single most formidable challenge to public health, human rights, and development in the new millennium (UNAIDS, 2002 & Jaiswal et al., 2005). Spreading knowledge and awareness about HIV is one of the key strategies utilized in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS worldwide. Inadequate knowledge and risky practices are major hindrances in preventing the spread of HIV. In many countries, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and unplanned pregnancies are frequently observed among adolescents. During the last century, and especially during the last few decades of that century, the early onset of puberty and initiation of sexual relationships were observed to occur at decreasing ages in many industrialized nations, whereas the average age of marriage increased. Thus, many adolescents began having sexual relationships with one or multiple sexual partners prior to marriage, and this facilitated the spread of STD and HIV. In many countries a significant proportion of youth initiate sexual activity by the age of 15 years (Kirby, 2002). Thus, adolescents in general are at a higher risk of contracting HIV through sexual transmission. Youth aged 13–14 years accounted for more than 1 in 5 new diagnoses in 2015 (CDC, 2012).

In 1981, the first set of cases of AIDS was discovered among homosexual men in the United States (Hymes et al., 2011). The men had an unusual type of pneumonia called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and rare skin tumors called Kaposi’s sarcoma. Shortly thereafter, the disease was recognized in Western Europe and Africa (Hymes et al., 2011). Today it has become a global pandemic.

Since its emergence, HIV/AIDS has become a devastating challenge to human dignity and generalized threat to socioeconomic growth (Maijama’a et al., 2013., Dixon et al., 2002). It has hindered the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (Alban, 2007) reduced life expectancy, lessened labour productivity and increased poverty levels particularly in developing countries (GRI et al.,  2011).

HIV is transmitted by three main routes, which are: unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products and vertical (mother-to-child) transmission during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. HIV transmission in Nigeria is largely through unprotected heterosexual sex contributing 80% of transmission (National Action Committee for AIDS, 2012). Factors that encourage transmission include lack of information about sexual health and HIV, multiple sexual partners, prostitution, low levels of condom use and high levels of sexually transmitted diseases (Hollandendu, 2012). Preventing HIV transmission and its attendant socio-economic sequel is an essential part of addressing the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. It has been documented that sexual behavior change and practice of safe lifestyles is the most effective way of preventing further HIV transmission (National Action Committee for AIDS, 2012).  

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and globally 36.7 million people were living with HIV by 2015, and 1.8 million of these were children (WHO, 2017). With the vast majority of people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries, an estimated 2.1 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2015 and estimated 35 million people died from HIV-related causes so far, including 1.1 million in 2015 (WHO, 2017). In 2015, a new global strategy was launched which aims to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and to achieve this, it is critical to accelerate efforts to address the epidemic among adolescents (UNICEF, 2017). There are an estimated 24.7 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 71% of the global total and ten countries; Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe account for 81% of all people living with HIV in the region (UNAIDS, 2013). In East Africa taking a look at Kenya, Kenya is one of the four HIV ‘high burdens’ countries in Africa; about 1.5 million people were living with HIV infection at the end of 2015 and the high burden of HIV and AIDS in Kenya accounts for an estimated 29 per cent of annual adult deaths, 20 per cent of maternal mortality, and 15 percent of deaths of children under the age of five (NACC, 2016). The epidemic has also negatively affected the country’s economy by lowering per capital output by 4.1 percent with an estimated 71,034 new HIV infections among adults and about 6,613 new infections among children annually (NACC, 2016).

In the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region where 71% of new infections occur, West African women between 15 and 24 years accounted for 22% of new HIV infections (UNAIDS, 2017). In Nigeria specifically, this percentage translated to 290 000 women living with HIV in 2016 (UNAIDS, 2017). Infection rates among women were reportedly twice as high as in men with a likelihood of acquiring HIV infections 5–7 years earlier than men. Women are disproportionately at risk of HIV/AIDS due to unequal cultural, social and economic status in society (Abdool et al., 2014). Gender inequality, among other factors, has been identified as a structural driver of women’s vulnerability to acquiring HIV (Amin,2015). 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It was observed that some of the antenatal patient were tested for positive which they were not aware of until they were screened, the reason for this study is to access the level of HIV/AIDs knowledge and awareness and also to look into the perception of HIV/AIDs among the people and women of child bearing age.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge and perception of hiv/aids among people of Odode Idanre, Idanre LGA.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

ü To determine the level HIV/AIDs awareness as evidenced in its perception among people of Odode, Idanre.

ü To examine the existing records on HIV/AIDs and use the records to determine its prevalence in the society.

ü To identify possible ways of creating awareness in the society especially among women of child bearing age

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

ü What is the level of knowledge towards HIV/AIDs among people in Odode Idanre?

ü Is there any existing records on HIV/AIDs and how can the records be used to determine it prevalence in the society.?

ü Are there possible ways of creating awareness in the society especially among women of child bearing age in Odode Idanre?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will yield data, which will contribute to the knowledge based on HIV/AIDs and also be useful to upcoming researchers in this line of study to reduce the risk of infection and HIV transmission` among HIV positive individuals and also to prevent the risk of superior infection as well as to prevent spread of the infection.

ASSUMPTIONS

1.    Some people believe that those that has HIV are those that lean

2.    Some believe sharing sharps with siblings will not make them contract HIV

3.    Some prefer having unprotected sex than protected Sex.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

AIDs: An infectious disease of the immune system caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Epidemic refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): is a virus that attacks the body's immune system

Immunity: Is the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells

Infection: is the invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agents and the toxins they produce.

Mortality Rate: is a measure of the frequency of occurrence of death in a defined population during a specified interval.

Pandemic: is a disease outbreak that spreads across countries or continents.

Prevention: Is the process of stopping something from happening.

Sexually transmitted infection: An infection that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact.

Susceptible: Mean likely to suffer from a particular illness or be affected by a particular problem.