Caregivers’ and non-caregivers’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and attitude towards HIV/AIDS and orphans in Nigeria

  1. Mayumi Ohnishi RN MPH PhD1,
  2. Keiko Nakamura MD PhD1,
  3. Masashi Kizuki MD PhD2,
  4. Kaoruko Seino MSc1,
  5. Tomoko Inose MSc2,
  6. Takehito Takano MD PhD2

Article first published online: 4 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2007.00757.x

Issue

Health & Social Care in the Community

Health & Social Care in the Community

Volume 16, Issue 5, pages 483–492, September 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ohnishi, M., Nakamura, K., Kizuki, M., Seino, K., Inose, T. and Takano, T. (2008), Caregivers’ and non-caregivers’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and attitude towards HIV/AIDS and orphans in Nigeria. Health & Social Care in the Community, 16: 483–492. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2007.00757.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of International Health and Medicine and

  2. 2

    Department of Health Promotion, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

* Dr Mayumi Ohnishi Department of International Health and Medicine Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8519 Japan E-mail: ohnishi.ith@tmd.ac.jp

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 SEP 2008
  2. Article first published online: 4 FEB 2008
  3. Accepted for publication 27 November 2007

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Keywords:

  • attitude;
  • caregiver;
  • HIV/AIDS;
  • knowledge;
  • orphan;
  • personal experience

Abstract

Nigeria has an estimated 930 000 AIDS orphans, which has a marked impact on family and community. This study was performed to characterise caregivers’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and their attitude towards HIV/AIDS, orphans in general and AIDS orphans in particular. Caregivers and non-caregivers aged 25–70 years in Nigeria were interviewed from January and March 2003, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between caregivers’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, orphans and AIDS orphans, and demographic characteristics and background status regarding HIV/AIDS and orphans. A total of 824 interviewees participated in the survey (82.4% response rate), of whom 290 (35.2%) were current caregivers of orphans. The mean number of orphans per current caregiver was 1.8 (standard deviation 1.4). Factors related to higher knowledge level regarding HIV/AIDS were female gender [odds ratio (OR) = 3.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.33, 5.22] and belief that AIDS is a common disease (OR = 3.39; 95% CI: 2.19, 5.26). Factors associated with positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, orphans in general and AIDS orphans in particular were age 35–44 years (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.69), Koranic schooling (OR = 8.69; 95% CI: 2.42, 31.19), polygamy (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.17, 2.62), belief that there are increasing numbers of orphans in the community (OR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.32, 5.08) and having relatives or friends with HIV/AIDS (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.61, 1.58). There was a slight correlation (r = 0.17, P < 0.001) between caregivers’ knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, orphans and AIDS orphans. Demographic characteristics and personal experience should be taken into consideration to improve attitudes and behaviour related to HIV/AIDS and caring for orphans and AIDS orphans.

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