Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Evaluation of Art’s Perception among People Living with HIV/AIDS in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Oluseye Ademola Okunola

ART has become the mainstay in the management of HIV/AIDS worldwide as it has considerably reduced the mortality and morbidity that would have been associated with this disease. The ART however, has transformed the perception of HIV/AIDS from a fatal incurable disease to a manageable chronic illness. The study assessed PLWHA’s perception of ART in a tertiary hospital in south western Nigeria. Mixed methods were used to assess the perceptions from the respondents between 18 and 60 years with the aid of structured questionnaire, Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentages, frequency distributions and chi-square while qualitative data were thematically analysed. The study revealed a positive perception of ART among the respondents which was about 86.3% as they perceived positive effects of the ART on their health. Furthermore the study was able to identify, improved health status and fear of drug resistance as their major positive perception towards ART from the interview as these were elicited to have contributed to the clients’ adherence to ART. The study in its entirety revealed an overall positive perception to ART among them with the following determinants as factors enhancing the positivity: sex, age, marital status and level of education.