CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1     Background to the study
Human immunodeficiency virus infection acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). During the initial infection a person may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness. This is typically followed by a prolonged period without symptoms. As the illness progresses, it interferes more and more with the immune system, making people much more likely to get infections, including opportunistic infections, andtumours that do not usually affect people with working immune systems.
HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions, infected syringe and instrument and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV. Prevention of HIV infection, primarily through safe sex and needle-exchange, is a key strategy to control the spread of the disease.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS; however, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of the disease and may lead to a near-normal life expectancy. While antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of death and complications from the disease, these medications are expensive and may be associated with side effects.
HIV originated in west-central Africa during the early twentieth century. It was first recognized by the centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1981 and its cause HIV infection was identified in the early part of the decade. Since its discovery, AIDS has caused nearly 30 million deaths (2009). As of 2010; approximately 34 million people have contracted HIV globally. AIDS is considered a pandemic, a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading.
The high incidence of HIV/AIDS in sub-Sahara Africa has been widely documented (Taylor, 2003). There are more than 40 million people afflicted with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 30 million are estimated to live in this region of Africa (UNAIDS, 2003). This represents about 70 percent of the global disease burden even though this region of Africa only accounts for about 10 percent of the global population (Eaton et. al, 2002). The most afflicted sub-Saharan African nations include Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia (White, 2003).
The unique challenges in combating the continuing spread of the disease in the region of Africa have been discussed by various groups and individuals (UNAIDS/UNICEF/WHO, 2002; Piot, 2000; Butler, 2000; Eaton, 2002).
HIV/AIDS has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source ofdiscrimination. The disease also has significant economic impacts. There are manymisconceptions about HIV/AIDS such as the belief that it can be transmitted by casual non-sexual contact. The disease has also become subject to many controversies involving religion.
Nigeria has the third highest population of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite this, the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is still low, especially in the rural areas.
It is also widely documented that half of all new infections with HIV/AIDS now occur in young people under the age of 25. While the spread of the virus may be slowing among other members of the global community, increases in incidence of the disease appear to be the norm among youth all over the world (Morris, 2003).
There are more than six billion people in the world today; one billion are between the ages of 15-24. Half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is under 18 years of age. One third of those living with HIV/AIDS in the region are between the ages of 15-24 (UNAIDS, 2002). Unless there is global commitment to decreasing the incidence of this contagion in this region of the world, Africa may remain the reservoir for HIV/AIDS transmission in the foreseeable future.
A dearth of knowledge about HIV/AIDS etiology among young people globally, constitutes a major challenge to the control of this scourge. Most people become sexually active in adolescence. The need to admit that young people are having sex but lack the proper knowledge to protect them is particularly important in the war against HIV/AIDS. Young people are now the epicenter and bear a disproportionate burden of this pandemic (WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS, 2002).
Surveys continue to indicate that young people between 15 and 24 years harbor serious misconceptions about HIV and how it is transmitted (Cohall, et.al,2001).