Cross-sectional Study of HIV Infection and Implication of Demographic Dependent Risk among People in Three Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria
Rhoda Nwalozie *
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Jane Nkechi Obi-Thomas
Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Brenda Anyakwe Nnokam
Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Jubril Adeyinka Kareem
National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: HIV poses a substantial global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where Nigeria grapples with a disproportionate burden. Three Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, known for distinctive HIV patterns, are the focus. In Nigeria, South-South presents with the highest rate of HIV infection in Nigeria.
Aim: This study aims to understand the relationships between HIV infection and various social, demographic, and non-HIV-specific modifiable factors.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study (N = 392) was carried out to explore these dynamics, examining marital status, education, employment, physical environment, age, sex, and non-HIV-specific factors like fever, weight loss, alcohol consumption, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status, and tuberculosis (TB). Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis at alpha level of 0.05.
Results: It revealed no significant relationship between age and HIV infection (p<0.05), and similarly, no significant gender association at p<0.05. However, marital status emerged as a significant factor (p<0.05), while educational status did not show significance at p<0.05. Modifiable non-HIV-specific factors, including Hepatitis, Fever, Weight Loss, HBsAg, and TB, exhibited significant associations with HIV at p<0.05.
Conclusion: This study has provided valuable insights into the complex interplay of social, demographic, and modifiable factors influencing HIV vulnerability in Nigeria's South-South region. The findings have implications for tailoring focused prevention and intervention strategies to mitigate HIV transmission risks in this specific region.
Keywords: Cross-sectional study, demographic factors, HIV infection, modifiable risk factors, social determinants