CHAPTER One

INTRODUCTION

For many years now the devastating effects of HIV on the world’s population, particularly people’s in Sub-Saharan Africa have suffered more from the ailment. Unfortunately the disease has ravaged Nigeria and it continues to spread like a wild fire. That is why the country is rated second most infected country according to World Health Organization (WHO 2003) in Africa.

The Nigeria first two AIDS cases were diagnosed in 1985 in Lagos (South West part of Nigeria) the largest city in the country and reported at the  International AIDS conference (AIDS 1985) April 1985, Atlanta

The reporting of those findings to Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) created panic in government circles, that same year the Federal Ministry of Health set up the National Expert Advisory Committee on AIDS (NEACA) to assist the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987,this assisted the government to established the first nine HIV test Additional AIDS cases were diagnosed, and a small number of apparently healthy blood donors were found to be HIV antibody positive through routine pre-transfusion screening in year (2003), The virus had infected approximately 5.0% of the adult population, within two year an estimated Four to Six Million Nigerians were carrying the virus. In 2002 the National Intelligence Council Identified five countries expected to been the heaviest burden of HIV infection in the expanding worldwide epidemic: India, China, Nigeria, Ethiopia, & Russia.

The Council predicted that Nigeria, Ethiopia would be especially hard hit with the number of people living with HIV  in Nigeria projected that Ten to Fifteen Million by 2010(WHO 2005) or as much as 26% of the adult population without effective prevention on a large scale, Nigeria will experience not only the tragedy of countless like forever attired by the HIV (Virus), but also untold average social & Economic effects.

This HIV  is now a serious problem in this great Nation. About 2.6 million Nigerians(Aged 18-49 years) are infected with HIV and several thousand already die of HIV and AIDS related illnesses, by the year 2005, World Health Organization estimated that Millions of Nigerians will be HIV positive (This is bound to have a major social and economic impact on the Nigerian society(WHO 2005).

 WHAT IS HIV.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that cause AIDS, when a person is infected with HIV, his or her body fluid such as blood, semen or vaginal secretation will contain HIV virus and antibodies against it. During infection HIV stays in the body and slowly destroys the body’s defense system (much like body soldier’s) when the defense cannot longer resist disease, the infected person become sick and is said to have AIDS.

STATEMENT OF THE STUDY

It has been observed that the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is due to ignorance and expensive treatment which is not accessible and available at all level of health care system e.g Primary Health Care Center.

Therefore, the researcher will like to know the level of awareness of Nigeria to ward if prevention of HIV /AIDS using Ikorodu General Hospital as a case study.

 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to :-

·         Know the number of adults who had HIV /AIDS

·         Know the percentage of those that are aware about mode of transmission of HIV

·         Ascertain the degree of effectiveness of health workers in preventing of HIV

·         Know the percentage of people who know their HIV

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

·         How does HIV spread? or how can individual contact HIV/AIDS?

·         How does HIV prevented and control?

·         Is there any treatment or cure for HIV?

·         Can any HIV positive person live a normal life?

·         What are the common modes of transmission?

·         What technologies are available or are being developed for treatment?

SCOPE OF STUDY

The research will be carried out in Ikorodu General Hospital to know the level of awareness of the people in the prevention & control of HIV?

ASSUMPTIONS

It is assumed that: It is assured that:-

1.    Inadequate information about HIV makes people to be afraid of knowing their status.

2.    Treatment available for HIV and the test done is expensive and not accessible thereby making the control of HIV  infection difficult.

3.    Being tested positive to HIV antibodies is the end of life as it has no cure.

DEFINITION OF TERMs

HIV : Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ARV : Anti Retroviral

VCT : Voluntary Counseling And Testing

TB : Tuberculosis

DOTS : Direct Observation Treatment Shortcuts

PLMWHAS: People Living with HIV/AIDS

STI: Sexual Transmitted Infection

WHO : World Health Organization

UNAID: United Nations Agency for International Development

USAID: United State Agency for International Development

PANDEMIC: A World wide spreading of infection over a wide area

CONTROL OF INFECTION: Action carried out to  limit the effect of an infection or stop the occurrence

PREVENTION: The act of hindering the occurrence of infection

HEALTH: Is a complete state of mental physical and social well-being of an individual not nearly the absence of diseases or infirmity

IMMUNITY: The ability of the body to resist infection or diseases

IMMUNE: Immunity or immunological response

IMMUNOSUPRESION:  Suppression of the immune e response usually cause by a disease E. G AIDs

IMMUNOTHERAPHY:  The prevention or treatment of disease using agent that may modify the immune response