A Study of HIV/AIDS Media Campaigns and Knowledge of High Risk Factors among Sex Workers in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigates HIV/AIDS media campaigns and knowledge of high risk factors among sex workers in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The main purpose of the study is to ascertain whether the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have positive influence on sex workers’ attitude towards the high risk factors of the pandemic.  In pursuance of this objective, the following questions were formulated to provide the needed guide to the study: Do media campaign messages on HIV/AIDS have a positive influence on respondents’ attitude towards penetrative sexual intercourse? Do respondents maintain consistent condom use with paying and non-paying clients? Would respondents shun sex without condom, irrespective of the amount the client would be willing to pay for it? Would respondents be willing to quit sex work knowing that it constitutes high risk behaviour of HIV/AIDS? Anchored on the agenda-setting theory and the standpoint theory, the work adopted survey method and utilised questionnaire as instrument of data collection. The sample size was 300 sex workers drawn purposively from three cities in South-South Nigeria, namely: Asaba, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. Findings of the study revealed that sex workers still engage in high risk behaviour of the scourge. The study, therefore, concluded that media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have not been effective on sex workers in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The paper recommends re-structuring of campaign strategies in order to make them more effective.

Keywords: Sex Workers, HIV/AIDS, Media Campaigns, Knowledge and High Risk Factors.