This study explored the cultural context of HIV stigma on antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in southwest Nigeria. Using purposive sampling, participants were recruited through a community-based organization. Consenting PLWHA participated in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions that were audio-taped. Using Deacon's conceptual framework of stigma, four opinion guides facilitated the interviews and discussions. Interviews and discussions were conducted in three languages, and lasted from 45 min to 2 h. A total of 35 women and men participated in the study. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 58 years, with an average of 4 years since clinical diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. All participants were receiving ART, and self-reported high adherence level. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged: life before ART, life after ART, and strategies used in ART adherence. In describing their lives before ART, participants reported experiencing self, anticipated and enacted stigmas due to their sickly appearance from HIV-related complications. After initiating ART, participants talked about friends and families "returning to them" and "apologizing for abandoning" them once they started "looking well." In response to anticipated stigma, many reported sticking to their medications. Drawing from the cultural milieu as part of their strategies, participants discussed the use of plastic bags for medications and àkònpó, as ways of diverting attention from their use of many medications. Implications for ART program policies and stigma interventions were discussed, along with limitation of a short-term ART study on stigma since long-term use of ART can contribute to stigma by way of lipoatrophy as PLWHA age.

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Plantain fruit constitute an important source of energy as a staple diet in the tropics. The peel of the fruit is discarded as waste after the edible portion is eaten; thereby constituting a menace to the environment, especially where its consumption is common, while the bracts, fruit stalk and leaf are left on the farm as wastes. These waste materials have been considered for use as organic fertilizer in some countries. This study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral composition of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes flour as possible sources of nutrients in formulating animal feeds. The proximate and mineral composition of plantain wastes (bract, ripe peel, fruit stalk and leaf) were determined using standard methods of analyses of AOAC and atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The wastes contained between 9.39 and 9.53g moisture, 1.87 and 19.37g crude protein, 0.73 and 1.83g crude fat, 8.10 and 15.50g crude fibre, and 54.00 and 68.00g carbohydrate / 100gsample. Plantain bract is very rich in iron (10.50-14.00 mg), calcium (120.00-150.00mg) and phosphorus (110.00-180.00mg)/100g sample. The plantain wastes can be sources of nutrients in animal feed preparation, as they are high in protein, fibre and essential mineral content. This will result in dual benefits of its use as animal feeds and proper plantain wastes management (waste reduction) strategy, as the wastes would have constitute nuisance to the environment.

This study examined if disclosure to their spouses by married women living with HIV/AIDS resulted in conflicts. Fifty-seven women completed a questionnaire on conflict indicators. While 93% disclosed their status within 6 months of diagnosis, 12.3% did so through a third party. More than thirty-six percent (36.8%) confirmed that disclosure led to conflict. Although 19.3% had their conflicts resolved through a third party, 10% suffered separation. Marital status and fear of stigma significantly influence time to disclose (p <.01 and p <.05), while type of marriage strongly influences whether status will be disclosed (p <.01). Programs for women with HIV should consider conflicts that may arise from disclosure.

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