HIV/AIDS and Cultural Practices in Nigeria Implications for HIV/ AIDS Preventive Communication Campaign
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Date
2017
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Publication of the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences. Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.
Abstract
Nigeria as a nation has been battling with the prevalence of HIV/AIDS to the extent that the disease is alarmingly threatening the social and economic spheres. This article, therefore, examined as the main objective the subtle link that exists between cultural practices and beliefs and the high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Specifically, it investigates the cultural practices that influence risky sexual behaviour and how cultural values of the people can be conceptualised into Sexually Transmitted communication Infections (STIs) preventive campaign in Nigeria. Stratified sampling technique was adopted for the study. Data were gathered through an in-depth interview among young students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and were content analysed accordingly. Findings of the study showed that despite modernization, virginity is a value that gives a woman a lot of respect among
her family members, peers, in-laws and husband. Similarly, the fear of tarnishing the family's name propels some of these young people from involving in risky sexual behaviour that can lead to unwanted pregnancy. Furthermore, the study revealed that polygyny was seen as a symbol of wealth Gild prosperity among the study population. The data equally revealed that, the cultural practices in Nigeria are at the heart of promoting, sustaining and fanning the spread of HIV IAIDS because it does not address extra-marital activities of men in the society.'
The study, therefore, concluded that the non-centrality of culture in HIV/AIDS preventive
campaign is one of the major reasons why very little success has been recorded in the area of behaviour change. The HIV/AIDS preventive communication campaign should not fight against the culture of the people because it might alienate the people whose cooperation is necessary if the prevalence of HIV/AIDS must he curbed.
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Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Preventive cornmunication, Cultural practices