A STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS USING CANONICAL CORRELATION ANALYSIS A CASE STUDY OF GENERAL HOSPITAL MINNA

0
705

A STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS USING CANONICAL CORRELATION ANALYSIS A CASE STUDY OF GENERAL HOSPITAL MINNA

ABSTRACT

This research aimed at fitting canonical correlation model that is capable of determining whether literacy level, age, marital status and gender are risk factors for HIV/AIDs. The data used is obtained from Heart to Heart center situated in General Hospital Minna, Niger State in June 2013. The Statistical package used to analyze the data is NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) 2007 package and the result shows that the first set of variables measured the correlation of 0.2972 with the proportion of variability of 50.7% and the second set measured the correlation of 0.1412 with the proportion of variability of  49.3% . Hence, concluded that marital status and gender are risk factors  of HIV/AIDs and implies that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is higher among the married men.. I finally recommended that there is a need for the government to enact a Law that will make it mandatory for the two partners to undergo the HIV/AIDS test.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Since the discovery of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the causative organism of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 1983, the infection has attained epidemic proportion globally. HIV/AIDS is an extraordinary kind of crisis; it is both an emergency and a long-term development issue. Tumer and Unal (2000) assert that (HIV/AIDS) is one of the most complex health problems of the 21st century. Despite increased funding, political commitments and progress in expanding access to HIV treatment, the AIDS epidemic continues to outpace every global response.

Today the AIDS epidemic has become a pandemic disease that is threatening the world population. As the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to spread around the world at an alarming rate, the number of people with this disease is been expected to grow significantly by the end of this decade. Moreover according to UNAIDS (2006); an estimated 24.7million people are living with HIV/AIDS in sub Saharan Africa. Meyer (2003) claims that HIV/AIDS which is acclaimed the fourth- leading cause of death worldwide is estimated to have claimed 25million lives since the beginning of the epidemic.

Acquired immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a viral disease caused by human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that is usually found in body fluids like blood, semen, vagina fluid, and breast milk of infected persons. The virus can be transferred from one infected person to another, mostly through sexual intercourse and sharing of unsterilized instruments like blades, knives, and syringes which had once been used by infected persons. (Olaleye 2003)

AIDS has rendered many children orphans, many of which were born with HIV infection. AIDS is killing the most productive people in the population, widening the level of development between developed and developing nations. It is also taking toll on the health sector since a lot of fund is channeled towards HIV/AIDS prevention and control. It has been observed that despite the many programmes organized to inform people about the problem of HIV/AIDS, the rate of it infection continues to be on the increase. (Omoniyi and Tayo-Olajubu 2006)

However, Cichocki (2010) Insists that, HIV testing is the first step to take when trying to find out a person’s status. Never should one rely on symptoms of HIV to decide whether one is infected. HIV testing is the only way to know for sure. The importance of early diagnosis of HIV cannot be overstated. Decades of HIV and AIDS researchers have proven that the earlier HIV is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and the likelihood of a long and healthy life. Meanwhile, certain risk behaviors have been associated with high HIV infection rate. These behaviors according to Anochie and Eneh (2001) are either life style related or health-care provider risk. The life style related risk behaviors include multiple sexual partners, prostitution, sex with prostitute or casual partners, unprotected sex, intravenous, drug abuse and commercial blood donation among others.

A STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS USING CANONICAL CORRELATION ANALYSIS A CASE STUDY OF GENERAL HOSPITAL MINNA

A STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS USING CANONICAL CORRELATION ANALYSIS A CASE STUDY OF GENERAL HOSPITAL MINNA