16th International AIDS Conference Toronto, Canada - August 13 - 18, 2006

STIs AND HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS IN AN OIL AND GAS PRODUCING COMMUNITY IN NIGERIA’S NIGER DELTA - BASELINE FINDINGS

Int Conf AIDS. 2006 Aug 13-18;16 Abstract No. ThLB0405

B. Fakunle¹, Y. Mosuro¹, O.A. Fajola², Z. Akinyemi³, O. Ladipo^3
1Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell Health Services, Portharcourt, Nigeria, ²Shell Petroleum Development Company, Department of Comunity Health, Portharcourt, Nigeria, ³SFH, Society For Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The new gas powered plant built by Shell (Nigeria) in Afam, has led to an inflow of settlers into the community. The inevitable interaction between the community, settlers and highly-paid oil workers often lead to sexual networking which may have implications on the transmission of STIs and HIV/AIDS. Objectives are to determine knowledge and health seeking behavior concerning STIs/HIV/AIDS in the community, as a prelude to a Shell initiated intervention and HIV/AIDS comprehensive care and treatment programme.

METHODS: Using multi stage stratified sampling, 2,113 males (15-64 years) and females (15-49 years) were interviewed using quantitative and qualitative methods.

RESULTS: 60.2% of respondents had at least secondary education. 28% were self employed (hawkers, pettytraders), 3.5% housewives, and 8.7% farmers /fishermen. More females (55%) compared to males (45%) knew at least 3 symptoms of STIs in women and men. Itching was the most commonly cited symptom in women (26%) compared to dysuria in men (51.4%). 11.4% reported genital discharge, itching or ulcer in the last 12 months preceding the study, however only 40.5% sought treatment at appropriate facilities, with more married (54%) compared to singles (36%). 82% of respondents knew that HIV could be asymptomatic. 7% of males compared to 5% of females believe that sharing toilets with infected persons can lead to infection. Other misconceptions include sharing eating utensils (5%), kissing (4.5%), mosquito bites (3%), witchcraft 1.8% and hugging (0.5%) The UNAIDS indicator on knowledge of prevention methods showed only 15.8% had correct knowledge of preventive methods. 13.9% of males compared to 17.1% of females did not know any HIV prevention method.

CONCLUSIONS: Even with above average educational levels, less than half sought treatment in appropriate facilities. Majority knew healthy looking people could harbor the virus but knowledge about prevention strategies is still low. The planned Shell-supported STIs/HIV/AIDS community-based interventions would focus on educational/preventive strategies.

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2006-08-13
ThLB0405

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