The relationship between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour among care workers (HCWs) in General Hospital Ogoja

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nigeria has the second highest disease burden of HIV/AIDS in sub Saharan Africa after South Africa with adult HIV prevalence of 4.1%, with an estimated 3,130 million people living with HIV (Male-1,320,000: Female-1,820,000-2010) (FMOH, 2010). The HIV epidemic in Cross River state is 7.1% in 2010; and ranks as the 9th highest in the country.General Hospital Ogoja is one of the secondary level hospitals in Cross River State of Nigeria that offers Comprehensive HIV/AIDS services. Although the prevalence of HIV is very high in Cross River state (7%) that of General Hospital is not readily known. The uptake of HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) among health care workers is relatively low, despite the fact that the awareness of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria by adult population is said to be generally very high (93.8%).The use of condom in the last sex act was low (16%) despite the fact that sexual transmission is the predominant mode of HIV spread in Nigeria (NARHS 2007)To determine whether the knowledge health care workers in GH Ogoja have about HIV/AIDS affect their sexual behaviour; a quantitative approach of research design was used through a questionnaireA total of one hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed and all were returned. There were few abstentions on some of the questions possibly due to its private nature but generally the overall responses were devoid of inconsistencies and the response rate was well over 98%.The findings from the study showed that greater that 90% of the respondents are quite knowledgeable with the cause of HIV, modes of transmission and prevention of HIV. While the respondents exhibit a high knowledge with respect to modes of transmission through sexual intercourse(96.8%); their knowledge with respect to safer sex practices with use of condom in penetrative sex calls for further review. It would be expected that 100% of all respondent will be fully abreast with information on the modes of transmission of HIV and its prevention.Condom use in stable relationship connotes different meanings to the respondents. While 109(85.2%) of the 128 respondents agreed to the use of condom among couples when the status of one of their partner is unknown. The response to the question on whether the use of condom affects sexual relationship portrays an interesting finding. 71(55.4%) of the total respondents disagreed with the fact that condom use affect sexual relationship while 42(32.8%) respondents agreed. It may not be out of place to assume that a lot of HCWs may not be condomizing effectively based on the impression that condom use during sex affect sexual relationship.Health care workers live and interact freely with other members of the society and are potential bridging group for disseminating HIV into the larger population. The finding from GH Ogoja portrays the fact that though the knowledge of HIV among them is very high their full application of the knowledge with respect to sexual behavioural change is still doubtful. A more qualitative study like focus group discussion will assist in unraveling this observation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University