Irene A. Merenu

Sexual Behaviour, Sero-Status Disclosure and Willingness to DiscloseStatus among HIV Positive Male Patients Receiving Care in Hospitals inImo State, Nigeria

Background: The non-disclosure of HIV positive status has most often been accompanied by risky sexual behaviours which is a complex relationship that facilitates the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. Objective: To determine sexual behaviour, levels of sero-status disclose and willingness to disclose; and the socio-demographic determinants of disclosure and willingness to disclose among HIV positive male patients receiving care in hospitals in Imo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional analytical design using a simple random sampling technique to select 422 HIV male patients attending the adult HIV clinics of two major hospitals. Data was collected using a pretested, semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were presented using frequencies and summary indices. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant relationships and binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors of disclosure and willingness to disclose. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A majority of the respondents were either traders or artisans (54.6%) with a mean age of 32.0 ± 2.0 years. The results revealed that more than one third of the respondents had two or more sexual partners (35.5%), less than one quarter correctly and consistently use condoms (23.3%) and close to one third had not disclosed their HIV positive status (31.7%); of which, less than two fifths are now willing to disclose (37.8%). It was further revealed that married HIV positive male patients who are traders or artisans above the age of 30 years with monthly income levels less than N40,000 (

Stigmatization and the Predictors of Reported Discrimination among HIV Positive Patients Receiving Care in Hospitals in Imo State, Nigeria

110) and living in an urban or semi urban area with family members or other people, were significantly more likely to have disclosed their HIV positive status. Similarly, HIV positive male patients who had not disclosed their status, but are artisans aged above 30 years, were significantly more likely to be willing now to disclose their HIV positive status. Conclusion: To be successful in our efforts of HIV prevention with respect to facilitating disclosure, it is important to design and implement interventions that are tailored to the specific circumstances and characteristics of the individual.

Patterns of utilization of orthodox and/or traditional healthcare services among pregnant women and mothers of under-five children in a rural community: Case study of Njaba, Imo State, Nigeria

Background: HIV related Stigma and discrimination is a reflection of fear of the unknown, driven by ignorance and helplessness that results in negative attitude, beliefs and unfair treatment towards those living with HIV. Objective: To assess knowledge of stigmatization, prevalence of reported discrimination and the socio-demographic and care predictors of discrimination among HIV positive patients receiving care in Health Care Institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional analytical design using a simple random sampling technique to select 422 HIV positive patients attending the adult HIV clinics from two public health care institutions in Imo State. Data was collected using a pretested semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were done with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant relationships and simple binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors of HIV related discrimination. The p-value was set at 0.05 significance level. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 37 ± 6.3 with a male to female ratio of 1:1.7. The overall level of knowledge of stigmatization and discrimination was poor in more than half of the respondents (55.2%). The prevalence of stigmatization and reported discrimination was 33.2% of which, close to two thirds of it occurred among the females (62.9%). The main source of discrimination was from family and relatives (45.0%) with close to half of the respondents having suicidal thoughts after experiencing discrimination (46.4%). The predictors of HIV related discrimination and stigmatization reported in this study were; being within the ages of 26-35 years, (OR 2.16), having at least one or more children (OR: 3.72), residing in their community of origin (2.00), residing in Orlu (OR: 3.77) or Okigwe (OR: 3.29) zones of Imo State, receiving advice to do the HIV test from a health personnel (OR: 2.52) and doing a HIV test and receiving a positive result from a private hospital (OR:2.22) or health centre OR: 2.11). Conclusion: Stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS are created by individuals and communities influenced by socio-demographic and care factors which continues to perpetuate the transmission of HIV; and therefore, it remains an important issue of public health concern that must be addressed.

Antenatal care services utilization among women of reproductive age in semi-urban communities in Orlu LGA, Imo State, Nigeria

Background: It has been stated that poor utilization of quality reproductive health service continues to contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Objective: The objective was to investigate the pattern of orthodox and/or traditional healthcare utilization among pregnant women and mothers of under.five children in Njaba and associated factors. Materials and Methods: A. cross.sectional survey of 422 women using multi.stage sampling, data collection instrument was a semi.structured interviewer.administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS. (16.0) and Mathcad 7 professional. Frequency distributions and percentages were tabulated; Z.test was applied as a test of significance, and confidence intervals. (CIs) calculated. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Ante.natal choice of care for 83.65% of them was orthodox healthcare, while 11.37% used traditional healthcare. Experienced/trained staff. (Z-score = 13.64, =0.000 and CI = 0.41–0.65) and neat environment. (Z-score = 13.98, =0.000 and CI = 0.45–0.69) were statistically significant reasons why the women preferred orthodox healthcare, whereas, good staff attitude. (Z-score = 12.57, =0.000 and CI = 0.62–0.80) was a statistically significant reason why some preferred traditional healthcare. Among the respondents who had delivered previously, 85.83% of the 374 deliveries were in orthodox healthcare facilities, while 14.17% were in traditional healthcare facilities. Conclusions: Majority used orthodox healthcare facilities because of experienced staff and neat environment, while some used traditional healthcare facilities due to better staff attitude. Attitudinal change in the orthodox facilities and training for traditional healthcare personnel are recommended.