Influence of Demographic and Socio-Cultural Variables on Non-Adherence to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Among HIV/AIDS Patients Attending a Government Owned Hospital, Ondo State, Nigeria (Published)
An anti-retroviral therapy adherence of at least 95% has been proven necessary in order for treatment to be effective. Failure to meet this level leads to poor immunological and virological outcome. This study assessed the influence of demographic and socio-cultural variables on non-adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (art) among HIV/AIDs patients attending a government owned hospital in Ondo State, Nigeria using a descriptive research design. A total number 110 respondents were recruited using a convenience sampling techniques. Questionnaire with reliability index of 0.70 was used as an instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to test the hypotheses. Results were presented in tables and figures. Findings showed that 66(60%) adherence to anti-retroviral therapy which is below 95% adherence rate and 44(40%) do not adhere to ART. The outcome of this study further established that there was a significant relationship between gender (p=0.00), level of education (p=0.00), family support ( p=0.00), cultural factor( p=0.00), religion (p=0.00), employment status ( p=0.00), poverty ( p=0.00) and noncompliance with ART, however, there was no relationship between age (p= 0.26 ), access to clinic (0.31) and non-adherence to ART. This study concluded that, HIV/AIDS patients should therefore be supported in all aspects to promote compliance with the use of Anti-Retroviral Drugs.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Patients, anti-retroviral, non-adherence
Availability of HIV/AIDS Information to Women in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to determine how HIV/AIDS information was made available to women in Ikom Local Government Area. Survey method was used through the administration of questionnaire. 300 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. The return was 90%. It was revealed that, due to poverty and the low level of education, the women found it very difficult to have access to available HIV/AIDS information whenever it was made available. It is therefore, recommended that adult schools should be established in all Local Government Areas of Cross River State especially Ikom Local Government Area to educate the women and sensitize them about the dangers of this deadly disease and how to prevent it especially from mother-child. By educating the women, it will enable them access available HIV/AIDS information at the appropriate time. Women should be empowered so that, they do not rely entirely on men financially.
Keywords: Availability, Cross River State, HIV/AIDS, Ikom Local Government, Information, Women
HIV/Aids Knowledge and Accessibility to HIV Information among Women in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was to determine HIV/AIDS knowledge and accessibility to HIV information among women in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. A total of 402 women were recruited using multi-stage random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was designed to generate data from the respondents. Data collected were entered and analysed using SPSS (version 20.0) and results were presented in tables and charts. Chi-square was used to test for association between variables at 5% level of significance. Findings from this study revealed most study participants (25.6%) were within the age bracket of 35-39 years, (91.8%) Christians, (71.9%) married and (43.3%) had undergone secondary education. Most respondents were civil servants (32.6%), traders/business women (15.7%), farmers (9.7%) and 20.3% were low income earners. Respondents exhibited high knowledge level of HIV/AIDS as the media (39.1%), health workers (18.7%) and HIV/AIDS campaigns (15.0%) were their major sources of information. About 54.5% respondents reported that they currently have access to HIV/AIDS information and other reproductive health services with primary health centers (21.4%) and hospitals as their top source of information centers. Intensifying HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and improving access to reproductive health services are core strategies in averting HIV morbidity and mortality among women domiciling in semi-urban and remote settings.
Keywords: Accessibility, HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Obudu LGA, Women
Socio-Economic Factors and Awareness of HIV/AIDS among Rural Women Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Issues for Guidance and Counselling (Published)
This study analyzed the socio-economic factors influencing rural women farmers’ awareness of HIV/AIDs in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Issue for Guidance and Counseling. The study employed purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques in the selection of 120 rural women who formed the sample size. Primary data used for the study were collected using questionnaire and interview schedule. These were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of data analysis showed that the rural women in the study area were knowledgeable on mode of transmission of HIV/AIDs such as: mother-child (94.17 percent), sexual-intercourse ( 93.33 percent), contaminated sharp (piercing ) instruments (91.67 percent) among others. The result of multiple regression analysis indicated a coefficient of multiple determination R2 of 68.5 percent. This means that about 68.5 percent of the level of awareness of HIV/AIDs in the area was influenced by the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Most of the explanatory variables were statistically significant and met a priori expectations. The null hypothesis tested at 5 percent level of significance was rejected. This shows that there is significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural women and their level of knowledge of HIV/AIDs in the area, hence the need for counseling. Further analysis identified lack of adequate information (3.64), remoteness of the rural areas (3.10), cost of information access (3.12) among others as major obstacles which limited rural women knowledge of HIV/AIDs in the area. It was concluded that improving the knowledge of HIV/AIDs through constant guidance and counseling would minimize the spread of the scourge and as well improve the contribution of the women to agricultural development in the study area. Necessary recommendations such as improving the educational status of the women farmers among others were made.
Keywords: Awareness Guidance and Counseling, Ebonyi State, HIV/AIDS, Nigeria, Rural Women, Socio-Economic Factors