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Perception of personal risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency viral infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome among people attending outpatient clinics in a teaching hospital of Nigeria
PT Adegun1, SA Adegoke2, OS Solomon3, IP Ade-Ojo4
1 Consultant Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2 Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
3 Consultant Family Physician, Department of Family Medicine, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
4 Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
S A Adegoke
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0019-557X.114996
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The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic is on the increase with the highest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 to assess the knowledge, self-perception of risk of contracting HIV infection and risky sexual practices among patients attending some out-patient clinics at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The knowledge on the modes of transmission and methods of prevention of HIV was high. Although, 53.0% of the study participants perceived themselves not to be at risk of contracting HIV infection, 80.6% were engaged in risky sexual practices within a year preceding the study. Significantly more participants with multiple sexual partners, past and present history of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) perceived themselves not to be at risk (P= 0.001, 0.008 and 0.001 respectively). Effective strategies must therefore be developed, to enhance risk-perception since poor risk-perception is known to mitigate behavioral change. |
