Relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty:Acase study of two cities in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted between March and September 2007 to determine the relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty in two urban cities in Abia State, Nigeria. A total of 382 respondents, made up of 235 (61.5%) HIV/AIDS positive patients, 119 (31.2%) HIV-negatives, while 28 (7.3%) were of unknown status. Using educational level, employment status and salary structure, it was found that the disease in the state was not caused by poverty. It was therefore concluded that drastic measures besides poverty alleviation, should be adopted if emergence of new infections in the state must be checked.

The Prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis Infection among Primary School Children (5-9 Years) of Infected Adults in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

“…Results obtained also shows a variation in the distribution of infection in relation to sex, age, occupation and level of education as agreed in similar studies [10]. In Figure 1, the prevalence of Elephantiasis Infection on Leg %, [11] reported that men were found to have a higher prevalence of the condition than women which also agrees with [12] that Lymphatic filariasis is an important public health problem in Ogidi as observed elsewhere in Nigeria. This could be attributed to inhabitants being exposed to mosquito bites, not using mosquito net and unhealthy environment.…”

Child Rights Law, Adoption Policy and Orphanage Management in Lagos: Implications for Responsible Citizenship and the Actualization of the African Union 2063 Agenda

“…In some states, urban prevalence figures are higher than that of the rural, though the reverse is the case in others (Obi et al, 2010). Interestingly, the spread of HIV/AIDS is attributed to poverty (Obi et al;2010). Whereas poverty in Nigeria is older than the HIV/AIDS epidemic as the first case of AIDS in Nigeria was only reported in 1986 (NACA, 2014), the sudden rise of the latter has bestowed a bicausal relationship that is mutually reinforcing thereby justifying the focus of many scholars on the study of HIV/AIDS as the major factor in the rise of orphaned children.…”

“…There is also a considerable variation in the urban/rural prevalence of HIV/ AIDS among the states in Nigeria. In some states, urban prevalence figures are higher than that of the rural, though the reverse is the case in others (Obi et al, 2010). Interestingly, the spread of HIV/AIDS is attributed to poverty (Obi et al;2010).…”

“…Others include general low levels of health, compromised immune systems, high incidence of other infections, including genital infections, and exposure to disease such as tuberculosis and malaria; inadequate public health services; illiteracy and ignorance; an inadequate leadership response to either HIV/ AIDS etc. (Obi et al, 2010). In particularly, Northern Nigeria, one part of the country that is ridden with endemic poverty and illiteracy, has a very high population of orphans, so much that most children survive alone, or in some cases as members of colonies or groups of orphans.…”