Agu Kenneth Anene, Igbe Ighodaro and Imam Sule Olufemi
Background: Sexual risk behaviour is a global health concern. Unsafe sex practices increase the risk of HIV transmission to sex partners. This study assessed the knowledge of HIV transmission and sexual risk behaviours of patients accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in secondary health facility in Nigeria. Methods: In a cross sectional study, a study-specific questionnaire was self-administered to randomly selected 350 out of 5770 patients accessing ART. A midpoint of Likert-type scale was determined; and values above were positive while below were negative. Chi square was used for inferential statistics at 95% confidence interval. Results: Of participants, 57.1% were female and 28.6% aged ≥ 40years old. Knowledge of routes of HIV transmission and risk reduction associated with condom use was negative. Participants had positive attitudes to non-disclosure of HIV sero-status, multiple sex partners and unprotected sexual intercourse. Majority (63.7%) had one sex partner, 16% had >1 sex partners and 12.6% had none. Number of sex partners was associated with sex, marital and occupational status (P<0.05) unlike educational status; 66.2% of those who had one sex partners were married; 56.9% and 46.7% of those who had >1 sex partners were males and retirees respectively. Majority (66.3%) disclosed HIV sero-status to sex partners but only 62.6% knew HIV sero-status of their sex partners. Disclosure was associated with marital status (P<0.05) unlike sex and educational status. Only 28.9% consistently used condom during sexual intercourse; and 67.6% of them were aged >30 years old, while 55.7% were married. Consistent use of condom was associated with marital status and age (P<0.05) unlike educational status. Conclusion: There were poor knowledge of routes of HIV transmission and benefits of condom use. Few participants consistently used condom during sexual intercourse. Majority had one sex partner and disclosed HIV sero-status to sex partners. Ongoing counselling and education should be integrated into HIV prevention strategies
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