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EDITORIAL |
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Year : 2014 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 1 | Page : 1 |
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HIV prevalence in Nigeria on the decline
Joseph I Ikechebelu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra, Nigeria
Date of Acceptance | 18-Jun-2014 |
Date of Web Publication | 1-Jul-2014 |
Correspondence Address: Joseph I Ikechebelu Editor-in-Chief, Journal of HIV & Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State Nigeria
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2321-9157 .135740
How to cite this article: Ikechebelu JI. HIV prevalence in Nigeria on the decline. J HIV Hum Reprod 2014;2:1 |
This issue of the Journal of HIV and Human Reproduction is unique in its content with a focus on Nigeria HIV program and indices. It captures in a technical report the whole of section 15 of the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS plus II) [1] of 2012. This report places the Nigeria national HIV prevalence at 3% reflecting a steady decline from 5.8% in 2001. [2] The distribution of this HIV prevalence according to age ranges, geo-political zones, sex, social status, and level of education is well-outlined. Furthermore, the rural/urban distribution is presented. The HIV intervention program in Nigeria is yielding positive results with this decline in prevalence and every effort should be made to sustain the tempo.
Onyeonoro et al. have reported on the knowledge and utilization of HIV counseling and testing (HCT) services among undergraduate students in Southeast Nigeria. [3] He found that 59% of the students were aware of HCT and only 44.2% had ever been tested for HIV. Lack of knowledge of the location of a HCT center and fear of the test results were key reasons given by the students for not taken a HIV test. It concluded that that adoption of youth-friendly approaches will improve uptake of HIV testing among Nigerian youths, who constitute a critical sector in the fight to eliminate new HIV infection.
Another original article in this series reports on the partner discordance in HIV infection sero-prevalence. Nigeria is a country where family values and marriages are still upheld. HIV infection in one partner brings a serious strain on family relationship and disclosure may lead to disintegration of the union. Ezeama et al. have reported a high sero-discordance rate of 54.7% among couples. [4] It also identified low involvement of male partners in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV program as a serious gap. The challenge posed by this sero-discordance was discussed in detail.
Finally, HIV prevalence in Nigeria is on the decline and effort should be intensified on current intervention programs in the country to further eliminate this scourge.
References | | |
1. | National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey 2012 (NARHS Plus II). Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Nigeria. Section 15: p. 349-73. |
2. | National Guidelines for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) 2010. Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Nigeria. Section 1: p. 1. |
3. | Onyeonoro UO, Emelumadu OF, Chuku A, Kanu OO, Ebenebe UE, Onwukwe N, et al. Knowledge and utilization of HIV and testing services among students of a tertiary institution in Abia state, South East Nigeria. J HIV Hum Reprod 2014;2: 8-14. |
4. | Ezeama CO, Eleje GU, Okonkwo T, Ikechebelu JI. Partner HIV sero-discordance in Nnewi, Nigeria. J HIV Hum Reprod 2014;2 :2-7. |
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