Risk Taking Sexual Behaviors among Antiretroviral Therapy Patients in Lafia, Nigeria; A Cross Sectional Survey.

Abstract

The HIV Prevalence in Nasarawa State, Nigeria is 7.5% which is above the national average of 4.1%. HIV prevention efforts have however not sufficiently targeted HIV-positive individuals partly due to inadequate data on their risk taking behaviours. The objective of the study was to determine sexual behaviours of Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving antiretroviral therapy at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional survey among PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Structured questionnaire was administered to randomly selected 320 Patients on antiretroviral therapy at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia,Nigeria. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviours such as use of condom and sex with non spousal partners. About eighty seven percent (87.2%) of men and 34.4% of women were sexually active. Almost two third of the male participants (65.5%) and 6.7% of female participants reported having sex with a non regular partner in the previous six months. Participants who were males (P<0.001), younger age(P<0.001), who had primary education or lower (P<0.001), who did not disclose their HIV status (P<0.001) and who were unmarried (P<0.001) were more likely to engage in sex with non-regular partners. Among the sexually active participants, 60.7% of females and 17.5% of males had unprotected sex at last sexual intercourse with their regular sexual partners. Sexual risk taking behaviours are high among persons receiving antiretroviral therapy in Lafia, Nigeria. Age, gender, level of education and disclosure of HIV positive status are associated with risk taking behaviours of PLHIV. People living with HIV need to be targeted for prevention interventions including peer education and interpersonal communication.