Abstract

Famuyiwa B.S, Oduwole O.O, Williams O.A, Lawal J.O, Adebiyi S and Shittu T.R

This paper looks at the factors affecting adoption of HIV/AID prevention strategies among women in Cocoa growing areas of South Western Nigeria. Women adoption behaviour to some HIV/AIDS prevention strategies such as faithfulness, abstinence, condom use, status check, and safe sex, avoidance of untreated sharp objects and transfusion of untested blood were investigated. 120 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Information was collected through interview schedule. The study revealed a mean age of 41.2±11 years with 82.5% married and 68.33% in polygamy. It was also revealed that though respondents had high knowledge of the HIV prevention strategies but a low score in the practice of the strategies. However, knowledge of HIV prevention strategies has a positive and significant correlation (r=0.065; α=.001) with practice of the strategies. The study further revealed that women servitude status will reduce knowledge of HIV/AID prevention strategies by 30.1% and the practice or adoption of prevention strategies by 25.7 %. It is recommended that programs for women’s freedom and empowerment that will enhance their participation in decision making process, at the family and community levels, for the control and the eradication of HIV/AIDS should be implemented. This also calls for drastic steps to curb the gender inequality problems in decision making in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas, that exposes women, who are the majority of the agricultural labour force, to HIV/AIDS plagues.