Environmental Characteristics of HIV/AIDS Affected Households in a Nigerian Rural Community

Abstract

A study of environmental attributes of HIV/AIDS affected households in Ijesa region, Nigeria (N = 297). Data from both primary and secondary sources were used to establish the relationship between socio-economic and environmental characteristics at different rural community zones; namely traditional core, post traditional and contemporary. There were more female HIV/AIDS patients, located in traditional core zones (78.1%) with high house density, living in shared apartments where residents shared sleeping and bath/toilet rooms. Thus, rape was significantly associated with the design and habitation density of households. In addition, widowhood, young age, informal education, menial jobs and unemployment of patients did not correlate with most environmental variables related to HIV/AIDS in contemporary zone compared with traditional zone. However, wealth status and quality education in relation to good housing environment and decent house density were significant in contemporary zone respectively. The study concluded that policies on HIV/AIDS prevalence at rural community level should focus more on high density areas having poor socio-economic and environmental characteristics.