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. 2018 Apr 23:76:22.
doi: 10.1186/s13690-018-0268-2. eCollection 2018.

HIV-related knowledge in Nigeria: a 2003-2013 trend analysis

Lena Faust  1 , Michael Ekholuenetale  2 , Sanni Yaya  3
Affiliations

HIV-related knowledge in Nigeria: a 2003-2013 trend analysis

Lena Faust et al. Arch Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Given Nigeria's status as the country with the second highest number of people living with HIV globally, and 9% of the total global burden of HIV being attributable to Nigeria alone in 2013, improving our understanding of the nature of the HIV epidemic in Nigeria is crucial. As HIV-related knowledge may be an important contributor to engagement in preventive behaviours, it is of interest to investigate trends in HIV-related knowledge in Nigeria with the purpose of informing future HIV prevention and education efforts. This study therefore aims to investigate trends in HIV-related knowledge in Nigeria between 2003 and 2013.

Methods: Data were derived from the 2003-2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys, and HIV-related knowledge scores were computed based on answers to HIV-related knowledge questions in the surveys. The significance of the difference between HIV-related knowledge across the time points was determined via the Kruskal-Wallis test, and changes in HIV-related knowledge were displayed graphically, stratified by relevant socio-demographic characteristics. ARIMA models were fit to the 2003 to 2013 trend data.

Results: Although there was generally a decrease in HIV-related knowledge across most knowledge domains in 2008, an overall increase was observed between 2003 and 2013. Unfortunately however, this was not the case for knowledge of mother-to-child transmission, which decreased between 2003 and 2013. The disparity in knowledge of HIV risk reduction between states also increased over time.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that although HIV-related knowledge appears to be increasing overall, future HIV prevention and education programs should focus on specific knowledge domains such as mother-to-child transmission, and on specific states in which HIV-related knowledge remains low.

Keywords: Demographic and health survey; HIV; HIV-related knowledge; Nigeria; Trend analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The DHS Program collects and manages data in accordance with the research ethics requirements of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, ensuring that participants provide informed consent and that the data remain anonymous. As this was a secondary analysis of DHS data, no further ethics approval was required. Data used in this study was treated as confidential as per DHS requirements, and respondents remained unidentified.Not applicable.The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
HIV-Related Knowledge in Nigeria by Sex and Educational Attainment, 2003-2013
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
HIV-Related Knowledge in Nigeria by Sex and Literacy Level, 2003-2013
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
HIV-Related Knowledge in Nigeria by Sex and National Wealth Quintile, 2003-2013
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
HIV-Related Knowledge in Nigeria by Sex and Wealth Inequality Ratio Category, 2003-2013
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
HIV-Related Knowledge by State in Nigeria, 2003-2013
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
2003-2013 Time Series Analysis: ARIMA Models for Total HIV-related Knowledge and Knowledge Subdomains in the Nigerian Population. Predictors included in ARIMA model: a, b, d Proportion of literate respondents. c Mean state-level wealth inequality ratio. e Proportion of respondents living in rural areas
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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