ABSTRACT
This study
investigated the Knowledge and Attitude towards HIV/AIDS and Sexual Networking among Intercity Commercials
Drivers in Eti-Osa L.G.A of Lagos State. The purpose of this research was to examine the knowledge of intercity commercial
drivers towards HIV/AIDS, to examine the attitude of intercity commercial
drivers towards HIV/AIDS, to examine the attitude of intercity commercial
drivers toward usage of condom and to examine the ways of managing sexual
desire among intercity commercial drivers. The
descriptive research survey was used to assess the respondents’ opinions using
the questionnaire and the sampling technique. In this study, 100 (one hundred)
respondents were selected and used as samples to represent the population of
the study. Four (4) research questions and two (2) null hypotheses were
formulated and tested in this study. Also, the ANOVA statistical tool was used
to test and analyses the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the exercise, the following
results were obtained: Hypothesis
one revealed that intercity commercial
drivers have significant relationship between adequate knowledge towards
HIV/AIDS.Hypothesis two
indicated that intercity commercial
drivers have significant relationship between positive attitude towards
HIV/AIDS. Based on the findings from the study
the following recommendations were made on the basis of the findings of this
study which include the following: The
findings of this study clearly indicate that government, non-governmental
bodies and educators must provide more than just accurate information about
HIV/AIDS. They must be aware of the differences between men and women’s
attitudes and behaviours with regard to HIV/AIDS. It is important for future
research to focus on: a) the level of knowledge of the staff or other educators
on the same issue, in order to ensure that they impart right knowledge and
attitude; and b) methods which help citizens to realistically assess their risk
for HIV/AIDS, it is highly likely that HIV/AIDS will still dominate as one of
the main health concerns of the nation for years to come. As education has been
found to be one of the most powerful tools to contain this pandemic, government,
non-governmental bodies and educators should take professional and moral
responsibility to pro-actively implement HIV/AIDS education and prevention
strategies in their respective institutions. As this study has shown there is a
momentum and it is equally the responsibility of these bodies to keep it going.
Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude HIV/AIDS, Sexual Networking Intercity Commercial Drivers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title
page i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Acknowledgement
iv
Abstract
v
Table
of Contents vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study 1
Statement
of the Problem 5
Purpose
of the Study 6
Research
Questions 6
Research Hypotheses 7
Significance of the Study 7
Delimitation of the
Study 8
Definition
of Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
Introduction 9
Concept of Condom Use 10
Concept of Human Immunodeficiency Virus( HIV) 10
Concept of Road transport workers 11
Knowledge and Attitude towards HIV 13
Prevention of HIV/AIDS 18
Knowledge of Commercial Drivers towards the Prevention
of HIV/AIDS 20
Attitude of commercial drivers towards prevention of
HIV/AIDS 22
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction 25
Research
design 25
Population
of the study 26
Sample
and sampling techniques 26
Research
instrument 26
Validity
and reliability of instruments 26
Procedure
for data collection 27
Method
of data analysis 27
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
ANALYSES AND RESULTS
Introduction 28
Descriptive Analysis of Respondents’
Gender and Age Range 28
Hypotheses Testing 37
Summary of Findings 39
Discussion of Findings 39
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction 42
Summary of the Study 42
Conclusions 43
Recommendations 43
References 47
Appendix 52
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
HIV/AIDS
have become a global crisis that threatens to reverse a generation of
accomplishments in human development. The gravity of HIV/AIDS epidemic and its
negative impacts on individuals, families and communities thus constitute an
unprecedented challenge to the establishment of a sustainable socio-economic
development.HIV/AIDS is a rapidly growing epidemic in sub-Sahara Africa. The
report of the 2005 sero-prevalence sentinel survey in Nigeria indicates that
the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS is 4.4%1. Traditional beliefs, cultural
factors, lack of knowledge about the disease and poverty were the most
important factors related to the increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria
(Omokhodion, Osungbade, Ojanen and Barengo, 2007).
Infection with HIV and STD occurs in specific risk situations
and scenarios. Among young people, girls are pressured into having sex with
their boyfriends and/or older men, syringes with drugs are shared with friends,
and boys are pressurised to join friends for a night out with girls of no
virtue. For adults, especially in sub- Saharan Africa, sexual contact has been
shown to be by far the dominant mode of HIV transmission, followed by blood
transfusion and exposure to needles, syringe and skin piercing instruments
(Hope, 2001).
The great majority of HIV-infected adults in
sub-Saharan Africa are known to have acquired the virus through heterosexual
intercourse and infected women outnumber men by ratio 6:5. The frequent
presence of other STDs tends to facilitate HIV transmission. Central and East
Africa are the hardest hit by the epidemic, which accounts for one sixth of the
regions’ populations but between half and two-thirds of its infections. In
several towns and cities, a quarter or even one third of all men and women aged
15–49 years are estimated to be HIV positive. In many Nigerian cities, HIV
prevalence is above 10% and there are indications that the situation might
become worse if drastic interventions are not implemented (Hope,
2001).According to UNAIDS, over 70% of the people who have contacted HIV live
in sub-Saharan African. Nigeria has entered a stage where the epidemic could
increase at an exponential rate unless adequate national and regional responses
are mounted to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS (Onwuliri and Jolayemi, 2102).
Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
estimated 33.4 million people living with HIV globally in 2008 (UNAIDS, 2009)
and about 3.11 million people are estimated to be living with HIV in Nigeria by
the end of 2010, thereby making about 9% of the global HIV burden (FMH, 2010).
Heterosexual transmission accounts for 80% of all HIV
infections in Nigeria (USAIDS, 2003). The HIV epidemic in Nigeria is
characterized by one of the most rapidly increasing rates of new HIV/AIDS cases
in West Africa (HIV/AIDS). This infection rate, although lower than that of
neighbouring African countries, should be considered in the context of
Nigeria’s relatively large population. In 2007 alone, approximately 170,000
people died from AIDS (UNAIDS, 2008). With AIDS contributing to loss of so many
lives, Nigeria’s life expectancy has declined from the average life expectancy
of 53.8 years for women and 52.6 years for men in 1991 to 46 for women and 47
for men in 2007 (WHO, 2008).
HIV/AIDS
Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) was conducted
in 2007 among subpopulations whose behaviours or occupations expose them to
higher risk of acquiring or contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI).
These sub-groups included men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW),
intravenous drug users (IDU), transport workers (TW) and uniformed service
personnel. The survey was conducted across five states namely: Anambra, Cross
River, Edo, Kano, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the
objectives of obtaining baseline data on risk behaviour; determining the
prevalence of HIV infection and syphilis; and assessing their knowledge and
beliefs about STI (FMH, 2007). HIV prevalence was highest among female brothel
based sex workers (37.4%); followed by non-brothel- based sex workers (30.2%);
MSM (13.5%); IDU (5.6%); transport workers (3.7%); police (3.5%) and armed
forces (3.1%). These sub-populations engaged in multiple partnerships in the
past 12 months of the survey with armed forces, police and transport workers having
37.3%, 29.4% and 37.9% respectively (Beyrer, 2007).
Men’s sexual behaviour greatly places women at risk of
acquiring the infection. Male behaviour contributes to HIV infection in women
who often have less power to determine when, how and even where sex takes
place. Some sub-groups of the population, such as female sex workers and long
distance drivers, have been shown to be particularly at increased risk of
exposure to HIV (Ekanem, Afolabi, Nuga
and Adebajo, 2005).
A study in which the knowledge and attitudes of
intercity commercial drivers concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and
sexual behaviour were surveyed revealed that 317 (99%) of the subjects had
heard of AIDS and were aware of the correct risk-reducing behaviour. Though
they knew that the use of condoms can prevent the transmission/acquisition of
STDs, only 32% had ever used condoms despite the fact that 61% admitted to
visiting prostitutes.
Short term or long term separation between spouses due
to the demands of long distance driving profession has increased the
opportunities to have sexual relationship with multiple partners, thus becoming
a critical factor in the propagation of HIV/AIDS. In Nigeria, there is always
heavy presence of commercial sex in most of the places where heavy truck
drivers use as stop-over, which indicates high possibility of patronage of
these sex workers by the drivers (Lawal, Akintunde Mutairu and Olalude, 2015).
United Nations against AIDS (UNAIDS, 2008) estimated
that only 18 percent of women and 21 percent of men between the ages of 15 and
24 correctly identify ways to prevent HIV. Lack of accurate information about
sexual health has meant there are many myths and misconceptions about sex and
HIV, contributing to increasing transmission rates as well as stigma and
discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS. It is on this note that the
study examined the knowledge and attitude toward HIV/AIDS and sexual networking
among intercity commercial drivers in Lagos State.
Statement of the
Problem
The
intercity commercial drivers are exposed daily to very close interaction with
different segments of the population with their divergent views about the
infection. It is suspected that this interaction may be one of many ways that
expose them to multiplicity of sexual partners hence this study which aimed at
assessing HIV-related knowledge and sexual behaviour, particularly condom use,
among intercity commercial drivers.
Socioeconomic factors indirectly influence HIV/AIDS
transmission since they influence the individual’s decision to indulge in
HIV/AIDS risk behaviours. Poverty was considered a major factor influencing
indulgence in heterosexual activities, an established sociocultural and sexual
behavioural HIV-risk factor, in these areas.
Short
or long distance travelling has been implicated to be a risk factor in HIV
infections. The drivers are mostly at risk because of they leave their families
frequently to satisfy their sexual need by patronizing commercial sex workers
(CSWs) and engaging in casual relationship with female hawkers in stop
stations. The sexual risk behaviours that lead to increased incidence of HIV
and STIs include unprotected sexual intercourse, premarital sex, extramarital
and commercial sex, multiple sexual partners and extra-vaginal sex as in
homosexuals as Peter, (2002) stated.
The resulting co-mingling of the two mobile, sexually
active, high-risk populations explains high prevalence of HIV and STI rates in
intercity commercial drivers and the subsequent spread of the disease through the
African continent. In addition to having sex with CSW, most truck drivers have
regular girlfriends or wives at home who are likely to become infected with HIV
by their husbands and boyfriends, and continue spreading the virus in their
local communities.
Purpose of the Study
The aim of this research
work is to examine the knowledge and attitude
toward HIV/AIDS and sexual networking among intercity commercial drivers in
Lagos State. The following objectives are to achieve the purpose of the study.
1.
To examine the knowledge of intercity commercial drivers towards HIV/AIDS.
2.
To examine the attitude of intercity
commercial drivers towards HIV/AIDS.
3.
To examine the attitude of intercity
commercial drivers toward usage of condom.
4.
To examine the ways of managing sexual desire
among intercity commercial drivers.
Research Questions
The
study will raise the following question in the course of the study:
1.
What is the knowledge of intercity commercial drivers towards HIV/AIDS?
2.
What is the attitude of intercity commercial drivers towards HIV/AIDS?
3.
What is the attitude of intercity commercial drivers toward usage of condom?
4.
What are the ways of managing sexual desire among intercity commercial drivers?
Research Hypotheses
H1: Intercity
commercial drivers do not have any significant relationship between adequate
knowledge towards HIV/AIDS
H2: Intercity
commercial drivers do not have any significant relationship between positive
attitude towards HIV/AIDS
Significance of the Study
An empirical study of this nature can help to
ascertain the level of awareness of the efficacy of condom in preventing HIV
transmission among the sexually active members of the society.
The knowledge of the level of awareness about the use
and efficacy of condom in preventing HIV transmission through heterosexual
intercourse can enable the government, non-governmental organization and other
service providers, to embark on programmes geared towards encouraging the
sexually active people in the society, especially intercity commercial drivers,
to engage in safe sexual activities that will reduce their exposure to HIV
infection. The information gathered formed input for the design of an
appropriate STIs and HIV prevention education intervention programme for the
target population.
Finally, the research will also be of practical
relevance to the government, non-governmental organizations and social
researchers who may be interested in this field of study.
Delimitation of the
Study
The
scope of this study is to examine the knowledge and attitude toward
HIV/AIDS and sexual networking among intercity commercial drivers in Lagos
State with focus on Ojota new garage terminal.
Definition of Terms
HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus):
It is a virus transmitted through bodily fluids which weakens the immune system
and causes AIDS (incurable disease characterized by a deterioration of the
immune system)
AIDS (Acquired immune
deficiency syndrome): It is a severe immunological disorder caused by the
retrovirus HIV, resulting in a defect in cell-mediated immune response that is
manifested by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to
certain rare cancers, especially Kaposi's sarcoma. It is transmitted primarily
by exposure to contaminated body fluids, especially blood and semen.
Sex: It is regarded as any
consensual behavior between two or more individuals involving genital contact
and bodily penetration.
Knowledge: It is described as the familiarity, awareness or understanding of
someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills,
which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering,
or learning.
Attitude: It is a predisposition or a tendency to respond positively or negatively
towards a certain idea, object, person, or situation.
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