CAUSES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF HIV/AIDS IN KWARA STATE

Abstract

Using a collection of household data and the Weighted Rank Analysis, this article examined the most likely causes and socio-economic consequences of HIV/AIDs in Kwara State. The result obtained revealed that the most likely cause of HIV/AIDS in the state was not clearly known by the people living with the virus. “Unknown cause” is understood to be a result of the years it takes the virus to manifest into full blown AIDS. The most likely cause of HIV/AIDS as claimed by the respondents, was sexual intercourse followed by transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, re-use of contaminated needle, blade, clipper and re-use of contaminated syringe in that order. The least likely cause of HIV/AIDS was therefore the re-use of contaminated surgical equipment In modern and traditional medical setting. The most severe socio-economic consequence of HIV/AIDS in Kwara State was discrimination/ stigmatization, having been rated first in the study, followed by increase in health care spending, psychological distress and shame, reduction in labour productivity and reduction in child and household care, in that order. Given this results the article has suggested measures that can be used to alleviate the plight of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).