A community-based cross-sectional study on HIV prevalence and sociodemographic correlates in two rural communities in Enugu State, Nigeria
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- 1 College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Ituku Ozalla Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a serious global public health concern, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a large majority of HIV patients live. Community-based statistics are critical for identifying local variations in HIV burden and developing focused therapies. This study looked at the prevalence of HIV and its relationship to selected sociodemographic characteristics among adults in two rural communities in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 and up was done in the Ngwo Uno and Abor areas. Participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling method, followed by simple random sampling. Data were gathered by standardized interviewer-administered questions, and consenting participants were tested for HIV using a fast test kit. Data was processed with IBM SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed to analyze the relationship between HIV status and sociodemographic factors at a p-value of < 0.05.
Results: The survey had a total of 425 respondents. The overall HIV prevalence was 7.8%. HIV prevalence was substantially related with geography (p<0.001) and age (p=0.005), with the highest prevalence observed among those over 65 years old.There were no significant relationships discovered between HIV status and gender or marital status.
Conclusion: HIV remains a public health concern in rural Enugu, with clear sociodemographic differences. Targeted, context-sensitive treatments are required to overcome these disparities and support ongoing HIV control efforts.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 and up was done in the Ngwo Uno and Abor areas. Participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling method, followed by simple random sampling. Data were gathered by standardized interviewer-administered questions, and consenting participants were tested for HIV using a fast test kit. Data was processed with IBM SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed to analyze the relationship between HIV status and sociodemographic factors at a p-value of < 0.05.
Results: The survey had a total of 425 respondents. The overall HIV prevalence was 7.8%. HIV prevalence was substantially related with geography (p<0.001) and age (p=0.005), with the highest prevalence observed among those over 65 years old.There were no significant relationships discovered between HIV status and gender or marital status.
Conclusion: HIV remains a public health concern in rural Enugu, with clear sociodemographic differences. Targeted, context-sensitive treatments are required to overcome these disparities and support ongoing HIV control efforts.