Socio-Economic And Socio-Cultural Predisposing Risk Factors To Hiv/Aids: Case Study Of Some Locations In Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and associated sociocultural and socioeconomic risk behaviours were studied among Commercial Sex Workers, Single parents, Long-Distance-Truck Drivers, Street Children and Students along the North-South highway in Eastern Nigeria. Screening for HIV antibodies was by EIA and ELISA. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used for investigative data collection tested by t-test and Chi-square. HIV prevalence occurred as follows: Commercial Sex Workers 23%; Students 21%; Single Parents 20%, Long-Distance-TruckDrivers 19%, Street Children 16%. Major mode of HIV transmission was heterosexual transmission; severe economic repression (poverty), illiteracy, economic-driven-migrationalactivities and unemployment were chief socioeconomic risk factors, while polygamy/concubinage, marriage for the dead, surrogate marriage of women to woman were main sociocultural lapses which create vulnerability of women to clandestine sex working/prostitution and subsequent exposure to STDs including HIV/AIDS. The study further observed that major high-ways constitute flashpoints through which the HIV gets foothold in the communities.