Factors hindering acceptance of HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) among youths in Kwara State, Nigeria

HIV/AIDS is a major source of concern all over the world as it constitutes a major source of death and a threat to national development. The virus has negative impacts on economic, social and political development of any nation that has its high rate (Alao, 2004). Nigeria is one of the countries with a relatively high prevalence of people living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa. Statistics indicated that at the end of 2007, an estimated 22 million adults and children in the sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV. Also, an estimated 1.5 million Africans died from AIDS while 11.6 million African children became orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS. Specifically, as at the end of 2007, Nigeria had 2.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 170,000 died of AIDS and 1.2 million were orphaned (AVERT, 2009). Due to the deadly effect of HIV/AIDS, Nigeria’s life expectancy dropped from 53.8 years for women and 52.6 years for men in 1991 to 46 years for women and 47 years for men in 2007 (UNAIDS, 2008). About 80% of HIV infections in Nigeria are transmitted through heterosexual activities, 10% of the new HIV infections are transmitted through blood transfusions while another 10% HIV infections are transmitted through mother-to-child transmission and other HIV risk behaviours, such as circumcisions and incision of tribal marks (AVERT, 2009). In Nigeria, HIV/AIDS is aggravated by inadequate sexual health education, inadequate voluntary HIV testing and counselling, unhealthy cultural practices and poor health care system (Jimoh, 2003; Alao, 2004). HIV/AIDS is a dangerous virus which destroys the body’s immune system. It leads to a progressive loss of a specific type of immune cell called T-helper, or CD4, cells. As the Virus multiplies in the body, it damages or kills the cells and weakens the immune system leaving the infected person vulnerable to various opportunistic infections and other illnesses (Jimoh, 2004; Lawal, 2008). Good health is an essential condition to meaningful national development. HIV/AIDS is a threat to life, thus individuals need to know their HIV status through testing. This is necessary because such a test helps to reduce transmission and involvement in risky sexual behaviours. It also promotes early treatment and adjustment (Jimoh, 2003; Oshi et al., 2007). HIV/AIDS counselling involves educating a client or a group of clients on the control, management and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Counselling assists people to make informed decisions, cope better with life challenges, lead positive lives and prevent further transmission of HIV. Voluntary Counselling and Testing can be defined as a confidential face–to–face interaction between a professional counsellor and a client or a group of clients with a view of assisting the clients to make informed decisions and adjust effectively in life. HIV/AIDS counselling consists of three stages, which are pre-test counselling, post-test counselling and follow up (Yahaya, 2004). HIV/AIDS test involves a scientific analysis of a client’s blood in order to determine his/her HIV/AIDS status. Both HIV/AIDS counselling and testing aim at assisting clients/ patients to understand themselves, and adjust effectively to life challenges and contribute meaningfully to the development of the society. Several authors (Alao, 2004; Pignatelli et al., 2006; Jimoh and Abubarkar, 2003) have noted that VCT is a key element to identifying HIV infected persons who could benefit from therapeutic interventions. A team of South African researchers carried out a study on factors associated with participation in HIV voluntary counselling and testing among TB patients in a rural South African hospital. A total of 153 consecutive adult TB patients were enrolled in the study. Demo-graphic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS were measured in order to determine possible associations with the decision to accept or reject VCT