TRADO-CULTURAL PRACTICES, SITUATION, ANALYSIS AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS IN THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper attempted to look at the Trado-cultural practices in the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is virus that gradually attack and weaken the body immune system, whose task is to fight off infections and illness.  Eventually, the body loses its ability to fight off and defend itself and thereby become vulnerable to infections by bacteria, protozoa, fungi and a number of viruses that are collectively called opportunistic infections.  This virus is the pathogen responsible for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, popularly known as AIDS.  AIDS is a disease caused by HIV and it is the end stage of HIV infection. When serious and characteristics illness appear.  It has been discovered that people get infected with HIV due to certain behavior that increase the risk of its infections, among such behaviours are traditional practices, which are customs, beliefs and stories handed down from one generation to the other, such as: female genital mutilation, incisions/tattoos, male sex behavioural dominance, polygamy, inherited wives, blood rituals.  In conclusion, the traditional practices that put the health of the people in jeopardy are considered to be harmful and such practices are predominant among rural dwellers who are not well informed and it was therefore, recommended among others that the Government at all levels should partner with NGOs to step up awareness in order to further sensitize the people on the danger involved in harmful traditional practices.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Trado-cultural practices, female genital mutilation, incision/tattoos.