Socio-Economic And Socio-Cultural Predisposing Risk Factors To Hiv/Aids: Case Study Of Some Locations In Eastern Nigeria

摘要

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and associated sociocultural and socioeconomic risk behaviours were studied among Commercial Sex Workers, Single parents, Long-Distance-Truck Drivers, Street Children and Students along the North-South highway in Eastern Nigeria. Screening for HIV antibodies was by EIA and ELISA. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for investigative data collection tested by t-test and Chi-square. HIV prevalence occurred as follows: Commercial Sex Workers 23%; Students 21%; Single Parents 20%, Long-Distance-Truck- Drivers 19%, Street Children 16%. Major mode of HIV transmission was heterosexual transmission; severe economic repression (poverty), illiteracy, economic-driven-migrational-activities and unemployment were chief socioeconomic risk factors, while polygamy/concubinage, marriage for the dead, surrogate marriage of women to woman were main sociocultural lapses which create vulnerability of women to clandestine sex working/prostitution and subsequent exposure to STDs including HIV/AIDS. The study further observed that major high-ways constitute flashpoints through which the HIV gets foothold in the communities. Literature Review It has been recognized that HIV/AIDS is a social disease, and the outcome of social sexual behavior 1. Efforts at controlling the pandemic meaningfully and adequately need to identify and evaluate those cultural norms and practices that are likely to expose individuals to the disease. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS 2,3, emphasized the need to address the sociocultural behaviours and values of the communities that expose individuals to HIV risk behaviours. This approach is suggested to lead to effective HIV/ AIDS intervention strategies. The developing countries particularly, sub-Saharan African bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic on account of poverty, malnutrition and virtual lack of modern health care facilities, and associated cultural, socioeconomic and political factors, which create particular vulnerability to the agonizing consequences of the infection. Recent studies show that as at 2005 about 4.5% of Nigeria’s 140 million population was infected with the virus and as many as 220,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses 4. The disease has increased the number of orphans, decreased the population of the most productive age group (15-49 years), and impacted negatively on the nation’s economy. The rate of infection varies across the country but the south-east is reported to have an average infection of 4% 5. There are, however, critical points on major high ways that constitute flashpoints and through which the diseases gets foothold on communities. This study was conducted among groups considered to be most at risk in specific locations of Enugu State Nigeria 9th-Mile-Corner in Udi Local Government Area, Eha-Alumona in Nsukka Local Government Area, Orba and Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area) remarkable for their strategic geographical locations along the north-south trucking route (the national trunk A that connects all the 17 states of the south to the north through the eastern flank). A pattern of lifestyle or culture now characterizes these trucking routes as commercial centres attracting vulnerable young ladies for petty trading and commercial sex working, important influencing factors to HIV/STD spread. It is against this background that this behavioural surveillance study (BSS) was carried out to identity most important HIV risk groups and establish socio-economic traits and risk behaviours predisposing individuals to HIV/AIDS in order to develop a suitable Community-based intervention strategy. Materials and Methods Ethical ProceduresEthical consent was obtained from proprietors and administrators of establishments and individuals involved in the study prior to commencement. All subjects given oral interviews were assured of protection of their privacy rights before they were given the interviews.