HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual behaviour and condom use among commercial motorcyclists in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of HIV/AIDS infection within our society has gotten to an alarming proportion especially as it affects our youths, the group to which majority of our commercial motorcyclists belong. This prompted the need to assess the level of awareness, knowledge and preventive measures by these stakeholders towards HIV/AIDS in the face of cultural beliefs, habits and ignorance. A total number of 345 questionnaires containing well-structured questions relating to the subject matter were administered to commercial motorcyclists selected through purposive sampling technique at different locations in Lagos State. Majority (72.7%) of the respondents were of the age range 20-39 years, of polygamous families (74.5%), Moslems (65.5%), with secondary education (58.3%). All the respondents were aware of HIV/AIDS. Respondents identified virus (84.3%), bacteria (3.5%) and excessive drinking of alcohol (8.7%) as some of the causes of HIV/AIDS. Some ways of contacting it included penetrative sex (96.2%), sharing shaver blade (57.1%) and maternal transmission (48.7%). Cases of misconception abound. Respondents who indicated they sometimes use condom were 64.6%. Those who had no sexual partners apart from their wives were 70.7%. The men in this study only had high HIV/AIDS awareness and adequate knowledge in some areas, but lack such in other key areas and therefore do not possess sufficient knowledge to curtail the spread of this killer disease. Education and condom promotion should be part of every national AIDS control program.

Knowledge, attitude and risky sexual behaviour on HIV/AIDS amongst commercial motorcyclists in Osogbo, Osun State, South Western Nigeria

“…A similar age bracket was observed among motorcycle riders in Lagos and Benin Cities, Southern, Nigeria and Thailand. [11][12][13] Knowledge are the first stage in the behaviour change continuum. In the case of HIV, it is almost certain that knowledge about a disease can lead individual adopting required behaviour, to protect against being infected, agreeing to being tested and consequently lead to a significant reduction in stigma and discrimination against those infected with HIV.…”

“…This study revealed that majority of commercial motorcyclists were aware and believed in the existence of HIV/ADS, similar to that observed in Benin and Lagos cities in Nigeria where over 95% of the respondents had heard about the disease called AIDS. [12,13] The general high levels of HIV/AIDS awareness in Nigeria might be due to increased mass media campaigns going on globally and within the country on the infection.…”

“…Similar misconceptions were also documented among commercial motorcyclists in Benin and Lagos cities of Nigeria where 1% of the respondents mentioned use of the same towels and food utensils. [12][13] This knowledge gaps needs to be bridged, as this will have an effect on the respondents' attitude to people living with HIV/AIDS, their acceptance of these groups of people as well as their care for them. In addition, more than one quarter of the respondents (44.7%) had an incorrect perception that an infected person will not look healthy.…”

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about rabies prevention and control: A community survey in five health districts of Burkina Faso

“…Respondents with no previous history with rabies were more likely to adopt uncorrect health practices. This result could be explained by the lack of regular rabies interventions in the study areas, involving and educating communities, as reported by Ojieabu et al (2011). Indeed, Burkina Faso has never developed a rabies control program (Dodet et al, 2010).…”