| dc.description.abstract | The five percent HIV prevalence rate of year 2004 in Nigeria has clearly shown that the country is at a critical stage in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A recent survey indicated that religion plays an important role in decision making in the lives of Nigerians and that members of faith-based organisations usually look up to their leaders as legitimate sources of ideas and opinions. Given the pivotal role that faith-based organisations could play in HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs, this study was undertaken to assess the HIV/AIDS educational needs of church and mosque congregation in Oyo State, Nigeria.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a multi-stage sampling technique to stratify churches and mosques into different denominational affiliations in Oyo State. Respondents were proportionately selected after worship activities in churches and mosques. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire focusing on HIV/AI DS awareness, perceived seriousness and knowledge, sexual practices and preferred HIV/AIDS educators was used to interview 1000 faith-based organisation members (500 church and 500 mosque members). Respondents were purposively equally distributed (500 males and 500 females). Data collected was analysed using Epi-Info v.6 and SPSS v.11.
Results showed that five hundred and thirty-seven (53.7%) respondents were married, 38.7% had secondary/modem school certificate and mean age was 33.3 ± 13.4. Majority of the respondents (99.9% Christians and 99.0% Muslims) were aware of HIV/AIDS. Overall, 84.2% respondents believed AIDS is serious, (50,9% Christians and 49.1% Muslims). Although, the knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission was high in respect to sexual intercourse [Christian, 99%; Muslim, 98 8%1 and blood transfusion [Christian, 98.2% ; Muslim, 96.6%]. Muslims were significantly more knowledgeable than Christians on mother to child transmission of HIV during breastfeeding (p-0.00). Contrarily, misconceptions were significantly higher among Muslims in respect to food sharing (p=0.00), kissing (p= 0.00) and mosquito bites (p=0,00). Similar findings were reflected in
Knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention. However, about one-fifth of the respondents in each faith-based organisation have misconceptions that HIV/AIDS could be caused by mosquito bites, coughing, sneezing and kissing. Slightly higher proportion of Christians, 99 of 246 (40.2%) compared to Muslims, 81 of 180 (45%) ever had pre-marital sex (p=0.00). Conversely, 46 of 325 (14.2%) Christians and 46 of 364 (12.6%) Muslims had extra-marital sex (p=0.00). Three hundred and eighty-nine (77.8%) Muslims and 53.4% Christians reported that their faith-based organisations have never organised HIV/AIDS education programmes apart from ad-hoc references during sermons. Nevertheless, 94% Christians and 94.6% Muslims favoured the inclusion of formal HIV/AIDS education programmes in their faith-based organisations including condom use (46.8%Christians and 51.6% Muslims). Most Muslims 84% and Christians 75.4% prefer their religious lenders as HIV//VIDS educators. Further training of religious leaders was suggested for improving the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS educational programmes in faith-based organisations.
These findings suggest that Churches and Mosques congregation are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention and are positively disposed to HIV/AIDS education in their organizations. However, religious leaders need to be formally trained for effective and sustained delivery of HIV/AIDS education in faith-based institutions and also encourage them to organise HIV/AIDS programmes for their faith-based organizations. | en_US |
