PREVALENCE OF HIV / AIDS AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN AKWA IBOM STATE

SOURCE:

Faculty: Education
Department: Human Kinetics And Health Education

CONTRIBUTORS:

Ekpenyong, M. J.
Okafor, J. O.

ABSTRACT:

In spite of effort of Government and Non- Governmental organisations towards the prevention and control of Acquire Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection remain a major health issue in Nigeria and is found to be a key factor in maternal mortality, mostly among women of reproductive age. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of HIV and AIDS and socio demographic variables associated with women of reproductive age attending health facilities in Akwa Ibom State from 2010 to 2014. Six research questions and six hypotheses were postulated for the study. Seven health facilities were purposefully selected for the study. The data for the study were collected from the folders of 236,996 women of reproductive age who attended health facilities in the selected health facilities from 2010 to 2014. Research questions postulated were answered using simple percentage, charts and tables. Hypotheses stated were tested using the Chi-square statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results among others showed that a total of 147,726 women were living with HIV and AIDS from 2010 to 2014 with the highest percentage (25.9%) in 2010 and the lowest (12.1%). Sixty nine percent of Women aged 27-38 years were highly infected followed by women of age group 15-26 years (23%) and 8 percent of women age 39-50 years were the least infected. Eighty six percent of the Women with the highest number of occurrence had GCE, lived in rural areas, married and were public servants. There were significance difference in the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women of reproductive age in Akwa Ibom State from 2010 to 2014 based on ages, level of education, place of residence, occupation and marital status. Based on the findings the following recommendations among others were made viz; Government and Health partners should establish AIDS education control units to protect staff from exposure to HIV, Plan, implement and intensify HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in the rural area of Akwa Ibom State. Timely and accurate data submission to stake holders should be ensured to communicate the effect of prevalence of HIV and AIDS. Health workers should carry out intensive clients counselling on disclosure of status to partners and routine medical check up.

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