Changing Citizens’ Negative Attitude towards HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: The Policy Thrust and Communications Strategy

Abstract

In this study, the negative attitude of some Nigerians which inhibits a total successful HIV/AIDS campaigns in the country is critically examined. This was motivated by the reported persistent high national prevalence rate of between 5% to 3.6% of this dreaded health problem over the past ten years. The study objectives were to: ascertain the effectiveness of communications’ media being used in the HIV/AIDS campaigns in Nigeria; and determine the potency of the health policy in the country as tools for successful HIV/AIDS campaigns. The area of study was Port Harcourt city in the Rivers State of Nigeria, reputed as oil producing State with a high momentum of social life. The main instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. Likert’s 4-points scale and measure of central tendency was used in the presentation and analysis of the data. Results obtained indicate that the communications’ media being used in the HIV/AIDS campaigns in Nigeria are quite effective; the health policy thrust in the country is also adequate for successful HIV/AIDS campaigns, however, some socio-cultural and religious factors, depending on the parts of the country inhibits peoples’ acceptance of some of the anti-HIV/AIDS messages and products like condom. The study then recommended that school heads, corporate organization heads, religious and community leaders should be used to enhance the success of the campaign against stigmatization of people living with HIV in the country.