Gender disparities in the socio-economic burden of HIV/AIDS among patients receiving care in an HIV clinic in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, women are bearing a heavier burden than men in terms of rate of infection and socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS. This study was aimed at assessing gender disparities in the socio-economic burden of HIV/AIDS. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 HIV-positive adult patients attending an HIV clinic in Lagos, Nigeria, selected by multi-stage sampling and interviewed using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was used to assess how the socioeconomic constructs differed by gender. Results: This study revealed that females suffered more of the socio-economic consequences of having HIV/AIDS than males; cruelty and isolation were significantly higher among the females (p<0.0001), more females (50.0%) were discriminated against at the workplace compared to males (32.1%) (p=0.005), physical abuse (p=0.002) and extortion (p=0.029) were experienced by more of the females than the males. Also, the cost of care outside of antiretroviral therapy was significantly higher among the females (p= 0.002). Conclusion: Quantifying the social and economic disparities between HIV-infected men and women has shown that the burden is by far higher among women than men. Focused interventions are therefore needed to control the spread of the disease and improve the quality of life of HIV-infected women. Keywords: HIV/AIDS; gender disparities; women; Lagos; Nigeria

Parental knowledge, attitude and practice regarding infant teething in rural and urban communities in southwest Nigeria: a comparative study

Background: Many parents still associate teething with one symptom or the other with the possibility of overlooking a potentially fatal condition because the condition is labelled as teething. This study was designed to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding infant teething among parents in a rural and an urban community in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in a household survey of 400 respondents in a rural and an urban community. Respondents were selected by multistage sampling. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: The proportion of respondents with good knowledge was significantly higher in the urban (72.5%) than in the rural area (58.5%) and secondary education was significantly associated with good knowledge in both areas (p<0.05). Higher education and occupation were significantly associated with positive attitude towards teething in both areas (p<0.05). The proportion of respondents with good practice regarding infant teething was significantly higher in the urban area (94.5%) than in the rural area (84.5%) [p=0.001].Conclusion: There was better knowledge and practice among parents in the urban than the rural area. Community education, particularly in rural areas, is recommended to dispel myths and false beliefs about teething.Keywords: Teething problems; Infants; Knowledge; Attitude; Practic

Determinants of antiretroviral treatment adherence among patients attending secondary health care facilities in north-east and south-west Nigeria: a comparative study

Background: Four decades after its discovery, HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, even with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Strict adherence to ART remains a challenge, with attendant implications for treatment success. This study aimed at comparing ART adherence between north-east and south-west Nigeria.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in two regions in Nigeria among 400 HIV/AIDS patients on ART. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine predictors of ART adherence in the regions. The level of significance was set at 0.05.Results: The majority of respondents from both the north-east (87.5%) and south-west (92.5%) of Nigeria had good knowledge about ART. The self-reported adherence level was 90.0% in the north-east and 87.5% in the south-west. Predictors of ART adherence in the north-east were knowledge about ART (AOR 9.949; 95% CI 2.009–49.284) and transport costs to the clinic (AOR 0.177; 95% CI 0.047–0.661). In the south-west, education (AOR 0.198; 95% CI 0.047–0.832) and knowledge of ART (AOR 8.945; 95% CI 1.749–45.751) were identified as predictors of ART adherence.Conclusion: In both regions, knowledge about ART was appreciable, but adherence was sub-optimal. Strategies to support adherence should be tailored to specific predictors in each region