The main purpose of this study was to examine the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and socioeconomic status) and HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria. The study is a quantitative research guided by one research question and one hypothesis. The target population comprised young people in Nigeria ages 15 to 24 years because the focus of this study was to identify the factors affecting HCT uptake among young people in this age cohort. The representative sample was obtained from the updated master sample frame of rural and urban zones developed by the National Population Commission in Nigeria. This master sample frame was a national survey that comprises all 36 states in Nigeria. Probability sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 10,091 respondents (ages 15 to 24 years) for the study. The multistage cluster sampling was used to select suitable young people with known probability. Data were collected throughout Nigeria between September and December 2012 from 32,543 households (rural = 22,192; urban = 10,351) using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The individual questionnaires asked about household characteristics, background characteristics of the respondents. Data were analyzed by inputting them into SPSS v21.0 for analysis and then coded them for each participant. The data were summed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies and percentages; measures of central tendencies were used to answer the research question while nonparametric test such as chi-square was used to analyze non-normally distributed data at 0.5 level of significance. Results of data analysis indicated that the sociodemographic variables of gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES were significantly associated with HCT uptake. Among others, it was recommended that examining the efficacy of HCT treatments in Nigeria, along with conducting a demographic analysis of the at-risk population, could be beneficial in informing the authorities who are responsible for allocating finite medical resources.
HIV and AIDS constitute a major global health problem. Many people globally have lost their lives due to HIV and AIDS attacks. In Nigeria for instance, HIV and AIDS stand out as the greatest threat to human life because there is no drug for its cure. As a result of non availability of drugs that can cure the sickness, most of them feel depressed and dejected. The incidence rate of HIV for young people aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria was approximately 5.6% in 2012 [
In response to the rising incidence of HIV infection among young people in Nigeria, Obidoa, M’Lan, & Schensul noted that public health research has begun to focus on identifying the sociodemographic factors affecting the sexual risk behavior of young people [
Gender, SES, cultural factors, and age are vital factors constituting such susceptibility and that awareness of the risks of and knowledge about HIV do not essentially translate to positive behavioral change [
Based upon the review of relevant literature, several sociodemographic factors that affect HCT uptake among young people were identified. The researcher examined the sociodemographic factors affecting HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria. Literature was used to identify independent variables (IVs), such as gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES and their relationship with HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria.
Level of education was the highest level of education attained by the respondent; the responses ranged from none to college degree [
SES was an estimate from the participants of how much money in Nigerian Naira (national currency) they made annually [
RQ1: What is the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES) and HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria?
H01: Sociodemographic factors will not be significantly associated with HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria.
Ha1: Sociodemographic factors will be significantly associated with HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria.
This study is a quantitative research. Quantitative research is deductive and confirmatory [
The target population comprised young people in Nigeria ages 15 to 24 years because the focus of this study was to identify the factors affecting HCT uptake among young people in this age cohort. This age group was considered because according to the NARHS Plus individuals aged 15 to 24 years are considered young adults [
Data were analyzed by inputting them into SPSS v21.0 for analysis and then coded them for each participant. The data were summed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies and percentages; measures of central tendencies such as the mean, standard deviation, and range were used to answer the research question. Nonparametric test such as chi-square was used to analyze non-normally distributed data.
SES was computed as a construct of the responses to three questions: type of dwelling structure, items currently possessed in household, and number of meals a day throughout an average month. The highest score for SES was 10, which was converted into a categorical variable (0 - 2: poorest, 3 - 4: poorer, 5 - 6: middle, 7 - 8: richer, 9 - 10: richest). The researcher assigned scores according to the responses of the participants. For type of dwelling structure, a score of 1 was assigned to participants who lived in mud house with thatched roof, mud house with zinc roof, and wood and makeshift structures. A score of 2 was assigned to participants who lived in mini-flats, room and parlor, or single rooms. A score of 3 was assigned to participants who lived in single- family house, duplexes, and two- or three-bedroom apartments.
For the items currently possessed in the households, participants were asked whether they owned a total of 22 items, one of which was excluded (owns boat/ship/canoe) because of the vagueness of the statement. A score of 1 was assigned to participants who owned no more than seven items; a score of 2 was assigned to participants who owned more than seven, but not more than 14, items; and a score of 3 was assigned to participants who owned more than 14 items. For the number of meals per day throughout an average month, scores were assigned according to the responses: 1: cannot guarantee one meal a day throughout the month, 2: only afford one meal a day throughout the month, 3: only afford two meals a day throughout the month, and 4: afford three meals a day throughout the month. The highest possible score for SES was 10 (i.e., the sum of the total correct scores), and the lowest was 0.
Sociodemographic factors comprised five variables: gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES.
Place of residence was categorized as living in urban or rural areas. A total of 2841 (31.8%) participants lived in urban areas, and 6079 (68.2%) participants lived in rural areas of Nigeria (see
Level of education was categorized as no formal education, Qur’anic only, primary, secondary, or higher. Eight (0.1%) participants failed or chose not to respond to education level and these responses were treated as missing responses. For the sample, 1180 (13.2%) participants had no formal education, 500 (5.6%) had Qur’anic only, 936 (10.5%) had primary schooling as their highest level of education, 5572 (62.5%) had secondary education as their highest level, and 724 (8.1%) had higher education (see
Geopolitical zone of Nigeria was categorized as northcentral, northeast, northwest, southeast, south south, and southwest. The participants were somewhat evenly distributed across the six geopolitical zones, with 1641 (18.4%) from the northcentral zone, 1345 (15.1%) from the northeast zone, 1534 (17.2%) from the northwest zone, 1443 (16.2%) from the southeast zone, 1631 (18.3%) from the south south zone, and 1326 (14.9%) from the southwest zone (see
SES was categorized as poorest, poorer, middle, richer, and richest. As observed, 20 (0.2%) participants belonged to the poorest category, 353 (4%) belonged to the poorer category, 2765 (31%) belonged to the middle category, 4337 (48.6%) belonged to the richer category, and 1444 (16.2%) belonged to the richest category (see
Gender of participants | Frequency | % |
---|---|---|
Male | 4075 | 45.7 |
Female | 4845 | 54.3 |
Total | 8920 | 100.0 |
Place of residence | Frequency | % |
---|---|---|
Urban | 2841 | 31.8 |
Rural | 6079 | 68.2 |
Total | 8920 | 100.0 |
Level of education | Frequency | % |
---|---|---|
No formal education | 1180 | 13.2 |
Qur’anic only | 500 | 5.6 |
Primary | 936 | 10.5 |
Secondary | 5572 | 62.5 |
Higher | 724 | 8.1 |
Total | 8912 | 99.9 |
Missing | 8 | 0.1 |
Total | 8920 | 100.0 |
Geopolitical zone | Frequency | % |
---|---|---|
Northcentral | 1641 | 18.4 |
Northeast | 1345 | 15.1 |
Northwest | 1534 | 17.2 |
Southeast | 1443 | 16.2 |
Southsouth | 1631 | 18.3 |
Southwest | 1326 | 14.9 |
Total | 8920 | 100.0 |
SES | Frequency | % |
---|---|---|
Poorest | 20 | 0.2 |
Poorer | 353 | 4.0 |
Middle | 2765 | 31.0 |
Richer | 4337 | 48.6 |
Richest | 1444 | 16.2 |
Total | 8919 | 100.0 |
Missing | 1 | 0.0 |
Total | 8920 | 100.0 |
The hypothesis examined whether five sociodemographic factors (gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES) were significantly associated with the uptake of HCT among young people in Nigeria.
To examine the association between geopolitical zone and HCT uptake, I conducted a chi-square test between the two variables.
Results of the multivariate binomial logistic regression, testing for all IVs as predictors of HCT uptake indicated that the variables of gender, place of residence, education, geopolitical zone, knowledge of where to obtain HCT, and knowledge of HIV transmission were statistically significant predictors of the likelihood of having HCT uptake.
The results of the chi-square test of association between geopolitical zone and HCT uptake showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between geopolitical zone and HCT uptake among young people ages 15 to 24 years in Nigeria, X2 (5, N = 8920) = 186.40, p < 0.001.
The demographic variables of gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES were found to be significantly associated with HCT uptake in the sample. A discussion of each demographic factor follows.
Gender. The study found that the female participants had a small but significantly higher incidence of HCT uptake than the male participants did. Potential reasons are that HIV generally has longer lasting and more severe effects on women than on men and because women are more conscious and aware of their sexual health status [
Geopolitical zone | Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North-central | North-east | North-west | South-east | South-south | South-west | ||||
HCT uptake | No | Count | 1172 | 1126 | 1374 | 1112 | 1273 | 1025 | 7082 |
% within geopolitical zone | 71.4% | 83.7% | 89.6% | 77.1% | 78.1% | 77.3% | 79.4% | ||
Yes | Count | 469 | 219 | 160 | 331 | 358 | 301 | 1838 | |
% within geopolitical zone | 28.6% | 16.3% | 10.4% | 22.9% | 21.9% | 22.7% | 20.6% | ||
Total | Count | 1641 | 1345 | 1534 | 1443 | 1631 | 1326 | 8920 | |
% within geopolitical zone | 100.0% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Value | df | Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) | |
---|---|---|---|
Pearson chi-square | 186.395 | 5 | 0.000 |
Likelihood ratio | 198.439 | 5 | 0.000 |
Linear-by-linear association | 0.430 | 1 | 0.512 |
No. of valid cases | 8920 |
of this result to my study is that although there is a significant need for HCT uptake by both genders, the need is even greater for men.
Place of Residence. Place of residence, that is, urban versus rural, was associated with the participants’ HCT uptake, with the incidence of HCT uptake being lower for participants from rural areas. This result might reflect the relative lack of HCT facilities in rural settings or the cognitive differences (discussed in the next section) between urban and rural populations. Various researchers have confirmed greater use of HCT facilities when individuals live in close proximity to such facilities, as they generally would in urban settings [
Level of Education. The study found level of education to be positively associated with HCT uptake; the higher the level of education, the greater was the use of HCT resources. This result supports earlier findings that a constant and linear relationship exists between level of education and HCT uptake [
Geopolitical Zone. It was found that although geopolitical zone did have a significant relationship with HCT uptake, no pattern emerged other than the urban versus rural difference. Although differences existed in the different geographical areas of Nigeria in terms of HCT uptake rates, they did not suggest any particular actions or interventions. It could be, as suggested earlier, that proximity to HCT facilities is the most important factor in HCT uptake.
SES. The study found that SES had a significant relationship with HCT uptake. Participants with a higher SES had higher HCT uptake rates. Several researchers identified a positive correlation between university attendance and HCT uptake [
The results showed that significant relationships exist among various sociodemographic factors (gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES) among young people in Nigeria. The quantitative measures used provided statistical and objective justifications of the relationships between and among the variables.
Although some variables can be controlled, such as level of education, knowledge of HIV transmission, and knowledge of HIV prevention, other variables cannot. The study therefore recommends that the goal of future researchers should be to examine the effect of the variables that can be controlled.
Again, examining the efficacy of HCT treatments in Nigeria, along with conducting a demographic analysis of the at-risk population, could be beneficial in informing the authorities who are responsible for allocating finite medical resources.
Religion and cultural norms should serve as a vehicle for preventing stigmatization and other related factors which often negatively affect the use of HCT resources by the Nigerian population.
Lastly, since lack of education can contribute negatively in the spread of HIV especially among young people in Nigeria, it is therefore recommended that young people in the country should be better educated about HIV awareness, transmission and prevention.
No funding was received for this study.
I declare that I have no conflict of interest.
This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.
AdaezeOguegbu, (2016) Investigation of Relationship between Sociodemographic Factors and HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) among Young People in Nigeria. Advances in Infectious Diseases,06,24-31. doi: 10.4236/aid.2016.61004