Socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors among HIV/AIDS patients in Kano, Northern Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
There has been no description of the characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients that are referred to this antiretroviral treatment centre. The information could be useful in planning for prevention, care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and people affected by AIDS (PABA).


OBJECTIVE
To describe the socio-demographic characteristics and identify risk factors among HIV/AIDS patients presenting to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.


METHODS
Analysis of a prospectively collected data on 205 consecutive patients presenting to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from May 2002 to June 2003.


RESULTS
Out of the 205 HIV positive patients seen, there were 112 (54.6%) males and 93 (45.4%) females giving a sex ratio of 1.2:1. The age range was 18 to 61 years with an overall mean S.D of 33.7 +/- [corrected] 8 years. The mean for males was 37.3 +/- [corrected] 7.8 years compared to 29.56 years for females. This difference was statistically significant (t = 8.1 DF = 201 P < 0.001). About 38.5% of the patients had secondary school education, 36.1% had tertiary education and 10.2% had primary education. Half of the patients were Hausas, 18.5% Igbos, 4.9% Idomas and 3.4% Igalas. Sixty percent were Muslims, the rest were Christians. About 64.0% were married, 23.0% were single and 11.0 % were divorced. Only 17.0% reported having multiple sexual partners. Eighteen percent claimed they use condoms always, 67.8% occasionally and 8.3% never. Twenty percent of the patients had previous blood transfusion. None reported intravenous drug abuse or homosexuality.


CONCLUSIONS
The need for a sustained multi-sectoral preventive effort and the scaling up of treatment and community care initiatives were stressed.
Iliyasu
Z
Z
Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Arotiba
J T
JT
Babashani
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors