SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT MAY FAVOUR THE TRANSMISSION OF ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) IN A RURAL YORUBA COMMUNITY: IMPLICATION FOR HEALTH EDUCATION

Abstract

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic poses a major threat to global health and a major challenge to health workers especially health educators. The study was designed to identify socio-cultural practices that carry potential risks of transmitting the AIDS virus in Ago-Are , a rural, Yoruba community in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study explored in-depth sexual, marriage and divorce, and blood contact practices that may favour the transmission of AIDS virus and consequently aid the acceleration of the spread of the disease in Nigeria. Qualitative methods were used to collect data from February to April, 1989. These were key informant interview, participant's observation, review of records and group discussion. Opinion leaders in Ago-Are as well as others who posses specialised knowledge on blood contact and divorce practices served as key informants. Operations of blood contact practices, proceedings at the Grade C Customary Court in Ago-Are as well as the activities of prostitutes living in a hotel were observed.

Review was made of the divorce cases determined at the court from 1982 through 1988 and finally discussions were conducted for groups of married and single men and women. There are nine female prostitutes in Ago-Are, patronized by both indigenes and non-indigenes. A fee of N2.00 is charged for each sexual encounter. The prostitutes are mobile as they often move from one area to the other selling sexual services to men. The lactation taboo that prohibits coitus between married couples during post partum is observed in the community. Findings revealed that men who cannot abstain during this period seek relief by indulging in extra-marital sexual relationships and resume normal sexual relationship with their wives once the abstinence period is over. Casual sexual intercourse is common in Ago-Are during festivals like Easter, Christmas, "Egungun" and Eid-el-kabir mostly among the indigenes returning from cities to celebrate during these festivals on one hand, and between those living permanently in Ago-Are and those returning on the other. A room in a hotel rented out to

customers for brief period facilitates casual sexual activities in Ago-Are. Polygyny is a common practice and some of the factors that promote it in Ago-Are are influence of Islamic religion, infertility of a wife and the potential economic benefits of the practice. A total of 134 divorce cases were determined between 1982 and 1988 at the Customary Court. Of these number, 124 or 95.5% were initiated by women. Lack of care from husbands was the reason often cited for divorce. Male and female circumcision are widely practiced and the beliefs that promote circumcision in Ago-Are are deeply rooted. Other common blood contact practices in Ago-Are are ear piercing, uvulectomy, body, medicinal and facial scarifications. Circumcision, facial and body scarifications were performed under unhygienic conditions with the operator using an unsterilised knife for all operations. The potential risks involved in the practices were assessed, the health education implications discussed and recommendations were highlighted.