Abstract

Background: HIV epidemic is moving from urban to rural population. Assessment of the awareness of HIV/AIDS control measures in rural areas is important to determine the impact of previous and current awareness programs as well as the need for interventions.

Aims & Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of rural dwellers in Osun State regarding HIV/AIDS and to explore the epidemiological determinants of awareness among them.

Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select the sample. The instrument of the study was a semi-structured questionnaires administered by interview to 399 respondents (sexually active men and women in the age range 15-55 years). SPSS was used for analysis and the results tabulated. Relevant statistical methods were also used to access associations where necessary and P-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: Out of a total of 399 subjects who participated in survey, 57.9% and 36.8% are aware of VCT and ART as HIV/AIDS control measures. More than one quarter of the respondents i.e. 35.1% subjects believed HIV/AIDS is curable while only 15.5% had gone for VCT. Demographic characteristic such as educational status was found to have significant association with knowledge and attitudes towards control measures of HIV infection.

Conclusion: Basic knowledge and good attitude on HIV/AIDS is still lacking among rural dwellers in Osun State. Literacy and media exposure are factors that determine awareness of HIV among them and can be helpful to raise their knowledge regarding this scourge.

Key words: AIDS; Awareness; HIV; Knowledge; Anti-Retroviral Therapy