Decades of persistent ignorance towards sustainable dissemination of HIV/AIDS information among rural women in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose -This paper focuses on the methods for achieving effective and sustainable HIV/AIDS information dissemination to the rural women in Imo State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach -A discursive paper with an argument based on reliable sources from the literature. Findings -The paper argues that the various channels already used to disseminate HIV/AIDS information to the rural women, such as the establishment of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA), the organisation of conferences and talks, and the use of mass media, may not be achieving the desired results in view of the fact that in spite of all the campaigns, the rates of infection continue upwards.Research limitations/implications -The focus of the paper is practical rather than researchoriented, but if new methods were adopted, further research would be needed to see if these methods were indeed effective. Practical implications -This paper identifies better practical methods for disseminating AIDS information, advocating the use of institutional frameworks, community inter-groups, community information centres, information repackaging and the adoption of vernacular as the language of communication as effective and sustainable methods of disseminating HIV/AIDS information to rural women. Originality/value -If adopted, the new methods outlined in this paper will encourage innovatory and more effective ways of improving information flow thus improving public health.

Library and information science and sustainable development: a structured literature review

“…Three out of six publications address libraries in the USA, whereby two articles report about a case study of a local library. Two publications about Nigeria are concerned with the information need of society, more precisely the dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS (Uhegbu and Okereke, 2006) and the emancipation of women through technological empowerment (Asokhia, 2009). Spain is mainly studied with regard to governmental institutions and their information dissemination.…”

Impact of tailor-made information literacy provision on rural dwellers’ participation in sustainable development targets in Nigeria:: Implications for public library services to oral societies

“…One seminal reason for this situation is the information communication gap (Schramm, 1964). Yet, several suggestions on how to enhance rural dwellers’ participation in development programmes has been published (Islam and Ahmed, 2012; Momodu, 2002; Nwachukwu andEzeh, 2007; Uhegbu and Okereke, 2006; Ukpong, 1993). But none of the available studies considered the possibility of exposing rural dwellers to contextualised information literacy programmes, as a way of bridging the information gap.…”

Advocating social marketing as ultimate weapon to fighting HIV/AIDS propagation, and related discrimination and stigmatisation

“…Those campaigns ought to create awareness, raise knowledge on the scope of the epidemic and change people's behaviour, attitudes and perceptions (Bunnell, Mermin, & De Cock, :855). To be successful, social marketing needs to take into consideration the issues regarding the complexity of HIV/AIDS prevention which necessitate awareness of prejudicial beliefs concerning the disease as well as the sexuality of the targeted group, in addition to a familiarisation with HIV/AIDS‐related misconceptions and notions (Uhegbu & Okereke, :35–36). According to Luboobi and Mugisha (), the uniqueness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is explained by the following factors: (1) ignorance of people about the disease, (2) lack of access to prevention, (3) inadequate treatment and care services, (4) stigma and discrimination, (5) a high incidence of STIs, (6) large refugee populations, (7) seasonal labour migrations that allow multiple sexual partners and (8) varying traditions and cultures within African countries.…”