Experiences of discrimination among youth with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Nigeria


Submitted: 22 February 2011
Accepted: 9 January 2012
Published: 7 March 2012
Abstract Views: 1184
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Authors

  • Adesola O. Sangowawa Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/ University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria.
  • Eme T. Owoaje Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/ University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria.
Nigerian youth currently bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic. This paper presents findings on the occurrence of HIVrelated discrimination among youth with HIV accessing care in Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted and information on history of discrimination experienced by 170 youth with HIV was obtained. About 80% of respondents had disclosed their HIV status. The majority had informed their spouses (66.3%), mothers (47.1%), fathers (39.1%) and siblings (37.7%). Sixteen (11.5%) respondents [15 (93.8%) females and one (6.2%) male] had suffered discrimination since disclosure of their status. Of these, 25.0% respondents were sent out of their matrimonial homes by their husbands, 25.0% were abandoned by their spouses and 12.5% indicated their fiancé broke up their relationship. A higher proportion of females (12.9%) than males (4.3%) had suffered discrimination. In addition, a significant proportion of respondents who were separated/divorced (73.3%) had been victims of discrimination compared with those who were widowed (10.5%) or single (5.9%) (P<0.05). The study confirmed that young people living with HIV/AIDS, especially women experience extreme forms of discrimination. More efforts aimed at addressing HIV/AIDS-related discrimination are required especially as it is a known barrier to HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

Adesola O. Sangowawa, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/ University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
Institute of Child Health, Medical Research Fellow and Consultant Physician
Eme T. Owoaje, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/ University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician
Sangowawa, A. O., & Owoaje, E. T. (2012). Experiences of discrimination among youth with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 3(1), e10. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2012.e10

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