Information Needs of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan Metropolis

Abstract

It is no longer news that the horrific grip of HIV/AIDS has claimed more lives than those killed in world wars one and two. In Nigeria, a developing economy with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, cases of HIV/AIDS have been reported in all the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.  This research sought out to enumerate the varying information needs of these special people positively living with HIV.In other to achieve this objective, fifty Persons Living With HIV/AIDS  ( PLWHA) responded to the questionnaire designed to reveal their information needs across nine different local government  areas in Ibadan, Nigeria with the view to know their information sources  and the barriers  inhibiting access to HIV/AIDS information.However, the findings revealed that relevant information which should meet  the varying needs of PLWHA are not available due to poverty, non involvement of the positive people at HIV/AIDS- related programmes, including the selection of HIV/AIDS information, stigmatization and discrimination often faced by PLWHA . While 62% of the respondents consulted the media, 62% turned to Churches and Mosques where the clergies were scarcely trained in HIV/AIDS related activities. Other sources of information were hardly consulted.It is recommended that religious leaders can be a very good channel in reaching out to PLWHA if trained as peer educators.  PLWHA should be included in the various selection committees not to only provide relevant information, but also to give sense of belonging in meeting their psychological needs. NGOs on HIV/AIDS-information dissemination should be encouraged as well.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Information needs, user information, health information.