Care/Support, Location, and the Monitoring/Evaluation of HIV/AIDs Prevention Programs: The Case of Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analysed the monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study considered different levels of care/support and tested for locational variations in the monitoring/evaluation of HIV/AIDs prevention programmes. A descriptive survey design was utilised. This study covered 596 public health employees (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory employees) in the study area. Using the proportional stratified random sampling procedure, a sample of 239 respondents was chosen. Data was collected using a questionnaire constructed by the researchers and validated by specialists. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that HIV/AIDs programmes had been successfully monitored/evaluated to a high extent. High success rates in the monitoring/evaluation of HIV/AIDs prevention programmes are attributable to high rates of care/support provided to people living with HIV/AIDs. There was a significant variation in the monitoring/evaluation of HIV/AIDs prevention programmes based on the location of health facilities, with higher rates recorded for urban areas. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the monitoring/evaluation of HIV/AIDs prevention programmes in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State had recorded a significant level of success. The study recommended, among others, that there should be even distribution of medical facilities, resources and personnel to both urban and rural areas to promote equity and access to materials needed to contain or mitigate the spread of the pandemic across all locations.