Gender Differences related to HIV/AIDS in South West Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine some underlying gender differences in the pattern of infection in a group of HIV positive patients in Nigeria. It involved 328 consecutive HIV positive patients attending dedicated clinics at four teaching hospitals in the South western part of Nigeria. Information on patients' socio-demographic characteristics and their attitude towards disclosure of their HIV status were collected with an interviewer administered questionnaire. There was a significant difference in the age distribution between the genders with a higher proportion of those younger than 35 years being females and higher proportion of males in the older age groups (p 0.05). A higher proportion of the female respondents were unemployed (73.2); students (88.9) and small scale traders (62.5) compared to the males. There was also a significant difference between the genders concerning disclosure of HIV status with the males more willing to disclose their status compared to the females (p 0.05). Fear of breach of confidentiality and discrimination were the most common reasons given. Conclusion: There is a need for economic empowerment of women as poverty increases the vulnerability of women to the infection