Knowledge, Attitude and Utilization of HIV testing and Counselling Centres by Female Sex Workers in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Date
2020
Authors
Ogunyemi, AO
Ogunmefun, OT
Oluwole, EO
Otokpa, E
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
Objectives: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic continues to expand among female sex workers (FSWs) who have limited access to and utilization of HIV counseling and testing services (HCT). HCT plays a pivotal role in increasing knowledge and awareness to prevent, treat, and control HIV/AIDS. The study objective was to determine the knowledge, attitude, utilization of HCT among brothel-based FSWs (BBFSWs). Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 300 BBFSWs in Lagos State. The respondents were recruited by snowballing after a multistage sampling method was used in the selection of the brothels. The data was collected using an adapted interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Majority (63.0%) of the respondents were between the ages of 21-30 years and 67.4% had good knowledge of HIV and HCT. About 75.0% had a positive attitude towards HCT and 55.6% of FSWs in this study had utilized an HCT center in the past. The main reason for not taking HIV test was the fear of a positive result (90.6%) while the main reasons given for not visiting any HCT center were lack of confidentiality (13.3%), stigmatization (14.8%), and distance to the HCT center (67.2%).
Conclusion: There was a good knowledge of HCT and a positive attitude towards HCT services by the respondents. The main reasons for not taking the HIV test as indicated by respondents were fear of a positive result. HIV-stigma related issues should be adequately addressed.
Keywords: Attitude, BBFSWs, HCT, Knowledge, Utilization
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) , Female sex workers , Epidemic , AIDS , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Ogunyemi AO, Ogunmefun OT, Oluwole EO and Otokpa E. Knowledge, Attitude and Utilization of HIV testing and Counselling Centres by Female Sex Workers in Lagos, Nigeria. Babcock University Medical Journal. 2020; Vol. 3, No. 2, pp 1-9.