AID AWARENESS PROGRAM IN NIGERIA

AID AWARENESS PROGRAM IN NIGERIA

(A CASE STUDY OF OGBOMOSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research work was to examine the level of awareness and attitude of students towards HIV/AIDS in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The research instrument used was the questionnaires, 200 respondents were used for the study. From the data collected the following finding were revealed that although many students have heard of HIV/AIDS as a dreaded killer diseases, only few of them know the causes of HIV/AIDS. Some of the students lack adequate information on the mode of transmission of the diseases there is poor role of the secondary schools in HIV/AIDS education of student’s lack of sex education in the school curriculum. Parents shy away from their responsibility in educating their children about their body chemistry. Lastly lack of awareness campaign about HIV/AIDS based on these findings the following recommendations were made: Government should encourage the introduction of sex education in the College of Education Ekiadolor-Benin school curriculum. Government and non-governmental organizations should put in more efforts on awareness campaign program. Government should organize seminars, workshops based on the mode of transmission of HIV among students, which will enable them to know that is their responsibility to educate their children about their body chemistry.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

          HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest health challenges threatening the developing countries today. It leaves indelible marks that are avoidable with proper knowledge and compliant behavior. Although it is a popular health topic in global media discourse, context-specific and culture-oriented campaigns would impact both urban and rural publics for positive health orientation and behavior change. This type of communication would be less discriminatory but rather affect receivers’ knowledge, attitude and practice irrespective of their socio-demographic, economic and cultural backgrounds.

Some modern communication technologies may limit information availability to specific media consumers, making developing countries and the grassroots estranged from current trends associated with the epidemic. Little is thus known or documented about context and culture-specific media strategies utilized for easy availability, affordability, accessibility and comprehension of HIV messages in a pluralistic country like Nigeria.

The present project examines the common media platforms used for HIV campaign and identifies the information dissemination strategies, language and subject of HIV/AIDS awareness in the Nigerian. It describes the type of information available to the Nigerian publics and the preventive mechanisms adapted to impact on public opinion and human response.

1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

HIV/AIDS has created a major health and social problems which has estimated to threaten the survival of individuals in most countries. In Nigeria HIV/AIDS situation is generally pathetic issues particularly the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infection and death among students in Benin City which is the chief concern of this research. HIV/AIDS was first officially reported in San Francisco in June 1981 by doctors from Los Angeles who discovered the strange disease fundamentally among male students who were homosexuals and intravenous drugs users.

The disease is prevalent among homosexual because it is commonly found in the blood and homosexual engaged in anal sex which causes rectal bleeding that make transmission take place. most researcher believe that human beings acquired HIV/AIDS through different means. Several schools of taught which are idealism =, behaviorism and pragmatism et arose concerning the causes of HIV/AIDS is caused by a virus known as T-Lymphotrophic virus type III (HTL II) or AIDS related virus (ARV) infection of this virus does not always lead to Aid preliminary in good health other may develop illness varying severity from mild to extremely serious. The virus that subsequently lead to Aid diseases is called Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). According to population report 2007 of the Joint United Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) which show approximately 20,000 new cases of HIV infected occur per day globally, 50% of this are among young people 30% of over sixty million people living with HIV/AIDS are within the age bracket of 15 to 30 years. Population report (2001) Africa is the epic center of the pander because of it has felt the greatest of AIDS where of Africa constituted only 13.2% of world population it account for 69.2% i.e. about (2/3) of world HIV/AIDS cases.

By the year 2007, 2.3 million Africa out of 36.1 million world wide have been infected (W.H.O.) AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death in the world wide number of one cause of death in Sub Sahara Africa in this region2 million death as result of AIDS was recorded for the year 2007 which make 80% of the total world wide population those infected with HIV/AIDS and Nigeria as a populous country is not excluded.

In Nigeria HIV/AIDS situation is getting worst aa result of ignorance, denial stigmatization and unsaved sexual practice. Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is increased by social factors such as moral decadence, conflict, inequality, and inadequate health care system and poverty.  Ragging from research activities like huge financially having been invested by individual, local committee medical experts governmental organization to fight against the spread of the view and to take care of the people living with HIV/AIDS.       The use of anti-retroviral drugs, use of micro biocide (for vaginal or erectal administration). Effective sex education, family life education (FLE) are all target campaigns against the killer disease HIV/AIDS. However, in many developing countries like Nigeria Aids remain a rising epidemic where there is inadequate knowledge about Hiv status indulge in HIV/AIDS friendly behaviour and illicit prenatal and unprotected sexual activities at an alarming rate. Whether in school or at home, the age of which most Nigerian students have their first sexual experience is increasing and also the rate of their promiscuity. As a result of the problem of lack of awareness mentioned above the study is undertaking to explain the phenomenon of HIV/AIDS, and way to spread and to create awareness on the risk danger severity and consequences of being infected with HIV/AIDS since Aids has remain on incurable disease.

Students can reduce their risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS by modifying and changing their sexual attitude and behavior.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

A lot of work has been done about Aids especially in terms of prevention and finding a cure, non governmental organization and governmental organization have put so much financial human materials resources in the war against Aids inspite of this the disease has continued to spread at an alarming rate and Africa countries recorded the greatest number of Hiv infections and death. The United Nation (UN) estimated that 34.3 million in the world have Aids more than 50% higher than what the world health organization global programme projected in 2002 with 24.3 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa Sampont, 2008

Everyone is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infections but it has been observed that adolescent and youth are more vulnerable, this is true in most developed and under developed countries from a substantial point of view todays students are under greater peril of HIV/AIDS, STDs and Aids control agency estimate that more than 60% of new cases of HIV/AIDS infections occurs in youth between the age bracket of 13-17 years, this is because students are becoming sexually active and having multiple sexual partners and their vulnerable misconception about course and consequence of the risk severity of  the disease. Another issue to be considered is that parents shy away from educating their children sexually, and this type of education may not be in school curriculum which makes most students at risk as a result of ignorance? Not only this many affluent and poor young students with insufficient parental nurture and guidance because parent spend most of their time for mix of survival.

Some students lack adequate and proper knowledge about this disease and their own development and its implication through the lack of awareness about protective and provisional health and how to utilize this service and this is attributed to the medical institutional effect today in Nigeria and turn lead to considerable negative aspect such as socio-economic on the students, family and society at large. This implies that if there is awareness and knowledge of consequence of HIV/AIDS among  students the high prevalent could be reduces and students will embrace preventive behavioural change since the students have the right to speak specifically in this HIV/AIDS era.

1.3     AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study investigates the level of awarenessof HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. This is with the view ofestablishing the relationship between their level ofawareness of HIV/AIDS and their sexual behaviour.

The objectives will be realized by answering thesequestions.

• What kinds of sexual behaviour exist among Students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria?
• To what level are students of tertiary institutionsin Nigeria aware of HIV/AIDS?
• Is there any relationship between the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS and their sexual behaviour?

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study are:

1. To determine the attitude of students towards people living with HIV/AIDS
2. To access the level of awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among students.
3. To enlighten all students about the right to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
4. To inculcate into students the important routes through which proper information about sex, sexuality reproduction and human disease are made available.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Based on the above assumptions, the following research question will be tested

1. What is the level of awareness of students on the mode of transmission of Aids?
2. What is the source of information on Aids among students?
3. What is the perception of students towards HIV/AIDS?
4. What is the attitude of students about HIV/AIDS?
5. Does cultural and religions influences make you to lack proper information about HIV/AIDS.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Every students, lecturer, staff and non-academic staff is venerable to HIV/AIDS which has considerable negative effects of an individual, family and society at large.

Naturally a great deal of pressure is on the researcher to find out how all categories of person can be protected from HIV/AIDS infection. The problem of HIV/AIDS is not only a medical issue but also a social issue since it affect the entire society as a whole. No disease can be effectively study outside social condition or without adequate information about social factors.

1.7     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will be carried out among students in Ovia North East in Benin City, Edo State. The range age of the population to be studied is between seventeen to twenty five include male and female students in different departments. The study is an assessment of the level of HIV/AIDS awareness and their knowledge leading to attitude behavioral change.

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