Prevalence of Human ImmunodeficiencyVirus (HIV) Antibody among Subjects inOgba/Egbema/Ndoni Local GovernmentArea (LGA) of Rivers State of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization in approximation, reported that in 2007, about 33 million people were HIV infected globally, and approximately 2.5 million were newly infected, even as over 2 million died of AIDS despite all the huge prevention and intervention strategies in place. Although, there seems to be insufficient data regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection prevalence in rural communities of Niger Delta as reported by many scholars in the region. The aim of this present study therefore, was to investigate the seroprevalence rate/prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni LGA of Rivers State. Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, a total of 1,484 subjects with age range of>15 years were screened for Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Omoku General Hospital and Erema General Hospital, all in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State of Nigeria. Result. Results: The result of the study showed an overall prevalence rate of 10.6%. The highest Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive infection occurred in age group 21-26years (30.6%) with a prevalence rate of 3.23%. The female had the highest prevalence of 7.61% while the male stood at 2.96%. There was no statistical significant difference (X2=0.002; P>0.05) in prevalence based on marital status, even as the married had a prevalence of 5.73% while singles had 4.85% respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that inspite of the massive Human Immunodeficiency Virus campaign advocacies in the urban cities in the region, there is still much to be done especially in the rural villages in the region. This calls for intensified efforts on health education on the risk factors and strong awareness on attitudinal change program of the citizens. The need to strengthen the strategy of antiretroviral therapy provision in the rural villages would help to reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus related mortality and morbidity in the infected persons in Niger Delta Communities.