THE SURVEY OF IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS EDUCATION ON PEOPLES ATTITUDE TO SEX A CASE STUDY OF ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE SYUDY

This study is design to examine the emergence of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) on the global scene as been a major source of concern worldwide. Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immune deficiency virus. Since 1980s, HIV has spread to almost every country in the world. The International Labour Organisation (ILO, 2002) and Lisk (2002) describe HIV/AIDS as constituting a crisis for gender and advancement, as people are particularly susceptible to these infections. The reasons are manifold including psychological, sociocultural and economic reasons. This diseases are infections generally known to be transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood contact and infected mother to the foetus. A lot of research had been carried out on HIV/AIDS by educationlist and scholars. Abdullahi (2006) stated that in Nigeria, the HIV/AIDS is devastating, he said Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa accounts for about 8 percent of the global burden of HIV/AIDS.

However, there are an estimated 34millions people living with the virus and each year millions of people become more infected. According to Lijadu, Sobola and Adetunji (2011), the socio-economic impact of the dreaded HIV/AIDS are unqualifiable in many countries of the world especially in the sub-sahara Africa, where AIDS is eroding decades of progress made in extending life expectancy. Millions of adults are dying young while some die in their early middle age. Average life expectancy in Sub-sahara Africa including, Nigeria is now 50years as against 62 without AIDS. Many families are losing their income partners, many of those dying have surviving partners who are themselves infected and in need of care. AIDS strip the family assets, furthering impoverishing the poor in many cases, the presence of AIDS means that, the household eventually dissolves and disintegrates, as the parent die and children are sent to relatives for care and upbringing.

Also the first cases of AIDS were reported in Nigeria in March 1986. By the health authorities, the number of the reported cases has been increasing steadily over the years with a reported cases has been 174 as at the end of December 2000 (Sangosanya and Siyanbola, 2005) as at June 2003. HIV population in Nigeria was estimated at 3,962,249 (Fayeye, 2004). Moreso, the expansion and improvement of HIV and AIDS education around the world is critical to prevent the spread of HIV and make people who are already infected with HIV receive HIV and AIDS education in order to live positively without passing on the virus to anyone else; and to ensure a good quality of life by informing them about medication and the support that is available to them. HIV and AIDS education also plays a vital role in reducing stigma and discrimination. Around the world, there continues to be a great deal of fear and stigmatization of people living with HIV, which is fuelled by misunderstanding and misinformation. This not only has a negative impact on people living with HIV, but can also fuel the spread of HIV by discouraging people from seeking, testing and treatment. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS education have give much more factual education about the danger of sex, increasing the breadth of peoples information about sexuality, affecting their attitudes so that the likelihood of participation in safer sexual behaviour increases, especially in view of HIV and AIDS and also promoting an understanding of, and appreciation for, gender differences and similarities (Feigenbaum and Weinstein, 1995).

Moreover, there is no dispute in the fact that HIV/AIDS pandemic presents a major obstacle and challenges to people. It is within this context that this paper examines the impact of HIV/AIDS, mode of transmission, impact of HIV.AIDS education on peoples attitude to sex.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

HIV/AIDS is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immune deficiency virus. Moreover, there is no dispute in the fact that HIV/AIDS pandemic presents a major obstacle and challenges to people. Hence, it has been a subject of concern to many researchers. This study focuses on the survey of impact of HIV/AIDS education on peoples attitude to sex and determine the extent to which HIV and AIDS education can be delivered.

THE SURVEY OF IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS EDUCATION ON PEOPLES ATTITUDE TO SEX A CASE STUDY OF ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT