Sexual practices conducive to HIV transmission in Southwest Nigeria

Several studies have shown that the AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa is associated with prevalent sexual practices that facilitate HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of knowledge of transmission routes for HIV in relation to high-risk sexual behaviour and to find factors significantly associated with condom use among sexually active respondents. High-risk sexual activities were assessed among 208 Nigerians using selfadministered questionnaires, in three cities of Southwest Nigeria: Ado-Ekiti, Ibadan and Lagos. Knowledge of HIV transmission routes, high-risk sexual behaviour and condom use were measured. A majority of the sexually active respondents, significantly more males than females, had two or more sexual partners. The highest proportion of sexually active respondents who perceived themselves at high risk of being HIV-positive were aged 19 or below, had poor knowledge of the modes of transmission for HIV and had never used condoms. Using logistic regression analysis, significant determinants of condom use among sexually active respondents were having sexual relations with a prostitute and being in a stable sexual relationship, and selfperception of testing positive for HIV if tested. In urban Southwest Nigeria, there is quite a high level of knowledge of HIV and AIDS, and self-reported condom use. However the non-use of condoms by the adolescents is disturbing; reproductive health and AIDS education programs need to be especially targeted at this group since they are at greatest risk of contracting or spreading HIV. A reasonable generalization from urban Southwest Nigeria to the rest of this region can be made. With the rapid spread of HIV infection in all sub-Saharan African countries, adequate and representative studies on high-risk behaviour are needed in Nigeria.