HIV/AIDS EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHURCHES AND MOSQUES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

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.