Attitude of Rural Dwellers to HIV/AIDS Prevention Promotion Programmes in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on the attitude of rural dwellers to HIV/AIDS prevention promotion programmes in Akinyele Local Government and Saki East Local Government Area of Oyo State. One hundred and eighty rural dwellers were purposively selected because they claimed to have participated in HIV/AIDS prevention promotion programmes. Variables considered include personal characteristics such as gender age marital status religion and educational attainment level of awareness on HIV/AIDS knowledge of rural dwellers on route of transmission prevention and symptoms of HIV/AIDS and attitude of rural dwellers to HIV/AIDS prevention promotion programmes was investigated. Structured interview scheduled was used to gather information from the rural dwellers. Analysis of data was achieved using frequency counts percentages and hypothesis of the study was tested using t-test. Findings from this study showed that majority 83.3% and 86.6% in Akinyele and Saki East Local Government areas respectively were males while only 16.7% and 11.4% respectively were females. 73.3% of the rural dwellers were 50 years and above in age. 89.4% were married 4.4% were single 2.2% were separated and divorced. Only 1.7% were Christians in Akinyele while majority practice the Islamic religion in Saki East Local Government. 72.2% had primary education in Akinyele while majority had no-formal education in Saki East Local Government area. Awareness level about HIV/AIDS is high among the rural dwellers. Also the route of transmission and methods of HIV/AIDS prevention was generally high but low on symptoms of the disease. The rural dwellers had positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS prevention promotion programmes. The test of hypothesis revealed that there was significant variation in the attitude of the rural dwellers in the two local governments considered for the study (Akinyele F = 0.421 df = 178 and Saki East df = 171.09). Efforts to sustain the positive attitude of the rural dwellers include continued adoption of multimedia approach in HIV/AIDS prevention enlightenment campaigns. (authors)