Nigeria’s Women Bear the Burden of HIV
In Nigeria, data shows that there is a higher prevalence of HIV infections in adult women compared to men and this prevalence is concentrated in the 15-49 age group.
This effect shows that there is a need to sensitise the public and formulate effective policies toward reducing the spread of HIV especially among women.
The prevalence is higher among female adults aged between 15-49 years with 1.6%, and for male adults, there are 1.0% living with HIV. Among young women, there are 0.6% living with HIV while 0.3% of young men are living with HIV.
On the other hand, data shows there has been a continuous increase in the number of HIV carriers who took antiretroviral drugs to reduce their mortality and morbidity rates.
Reducing HIV Through Knowledge Assessment
HIV remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. However, research has made its prevention easier in the past few years by addressing the biological, behavioural and social factors that influence women's vulnerability to HIV infection.
Individuals with multiple sexual partners face a higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Consequently, understanding the number of sexual partners people have and their use of safe sex practices is critical for designing and monitoring programs aimed at controlling the spread of HIV.
Education plays a significant role in promoting safer sexual behaviours, as educated Nigerians are generally more aware and proactive about practising safe sex compared to those with limited or no formal education.
However, research shows some traditional HIV prevention strategies have tended to focus predominantly on “ABC”: Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom. While the ABC approach has undoubtedly prevented large numbers of people from becoming infected, many of the world’s women are simply not in a position to abstain from sex, rely on fidelity, or negotiate condom use.
ABC can only be a viable and effective prevention option for women and girls if it is implemented as part of a multi-faceted package of interventions that seek to redress deep-rooted gender imbalances.
This involves advocating for the empowerment of women and promoting the rights of women and girls. Addressing the existing unequal gender norms that limit young women and girls’ ability to make informed choices about their sexuality is crucial in reversing the alarming rise in HIV infections among this demographic.