Behavioural and Socio-economic Implications of HIV/AIDS Patients on Population and Development of Ebonyi State, Nigeria: 2010–2014

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that HIV/AIDS has become one of the leading causes of death Worldwide since it was discovered over 30 years ago. The virus has challenged medical solutions and it poses serious socio-economic challenges to most African countries and Ebonyi state in Nigeria in particular. However, the relationship between the behavioural pattern of HIV/AIDS patients, population growth and economic development has not been established in Ebonyi state. Therefore, the study aims to determine the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS on population growth and economic development in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

METHOD: Survey research approach was adopted and information was generated from primary sources. The information was subjected to rigorous content and validity analysis to establish their consistency and reliability. Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) was selected for the study due to the strategic location of the institution. 210 HIV/AIDS patients were selected randomly and the descriptive method of data analysis was used. Reported HIV/AIDS cases in the hospital between 2010 and 2014 were 2583.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that 61.9% of those living with the virus are female and the rest male, while 76.2% have tertiary education, 71.9% are between 26 to 64 years old, 46.2% are single, 56.7% contracted it through sexual intercourse, 94.3% have been living with it for between 1-8 years, 71.4% engage in unprotected sexual intercourse since they contracted it while 85.3% are desirous of transmitting the virus to others before they die. The spread of the virus is associated with causal/unprotected sexual habits, poverty induced prostitution, indecent dressing, uncontrolled access to social network and improper use of condom.

CONCLUSION: The study reveals a strong relationship between HIV/AIDS, economic development and population growth and recommends establishment of special task force to check indecent/offensive dressing, attitudinal/behavioural change/modification of the patients and control on the use of social network by the youth as measures to check the further spread of the virus in the state.