KNOWLEDGE OF AWARENESS ABOUT HIV/AIDS AMONG THE PEOPLE OF LAKE CHAD BASIN OF BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A cross sectional quantitative survey that obtained information on the behavioural characteristics of the general population and the vulnerable groups with respect to knowledge of awareness of HIV/AIDS in Lake Chad Basin of Borno State was carried out among 1,790 volunteers. The respondents, who had ever heard about HIV/AIDS, were disaggregated by target groups. 78.7% of prison inmates, 76.8% of commercial sex workers, 75.2% transporters, 64.5% of uniform service men/women and 58.7% of Island population have heard about HIV/AIDS, while the percentage among traders and Household stood at 56.4% and 45.5% each.  On disaggregation by gender, 63.9% of males and 49.8% of the females have heard about HIV/AIDS. 60.4% of the urban and 59.3% of the rural communities reported to have heard about HIV/AIDS. On the knowledge of transmission of the HIV/AIDS, there was 45% awareness on unprotected sexual intercourse, 40% on blood and blood products, 6% on mother to child transmission, 1% on sharp objects while 8% does not know how the virus is transmitted. On HIV/AIDS prevention tools, 34% were aware of abstinence, 32% use of condoms, 13% faithfulness, 8% reported other methods while 13% did not know. The knowledge of awareness about HIV/AIDS though cut across both the general and vulnerable populations, there is need for more awareness to curb this dreaded disease.