Knowledge and perception of employers of labour in Ibadan North Local Government Area about staff and applicants living with HIV and AIDS

Abstract

Abstract: The epidemic of HIV and AIDS is a major challenge to development. It reduces the productivity of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the labourforce and imposes a huge socio-economic burden on employers of labour. In Nigeria, little is known about employers of labour’s perceptions and practices relating to HIV and AIDS. The study was cross-sectional in design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 400 study respondents in the public (38) and private (362) sectors for interview. The instrument for data collection was a pre-tested semi–structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chisquare test. There were more males (68.2%) than females (31.8%) among the respondents. A majority, (79.0%), of the respondents in the public sector (PuS) and 72.9% in the private sector (PrS) knew that an infected healthy looking person could harbour and transmit HIV to others. Overall, deep kissing (89.8%) topped the list of perceived mode of transmission of HIV; blood transfusion was mentioned by 46.3% of the respondents while unprotected sex (30.4%) was the least mentioned. The listed ways of preventing HIV were: use of condom (85.9%); avoiding deep kissing (71.3%); keeping one uninfected sexual partner (21.2%); and sexual abstinence (15.4%). Avoidance of unscreened blood transfusion (6.2%) was the least mentioned means of transmitting HIV. The perception of 77.0% of the entire respondents was that HIV and AIDS do not reduce workers’ productivity. A majority, (80.0%), of which 2.3% with no formal education, 1.0% primary education, 13.5% secondary education, 41.5% HND/B.Sc, 21.0% postgraduate and 0.8% with other qualifications were of the view that workers infected with HIV and AIDS should not be sacked. Although the respondents would tolerate staff with HIV and AIDS, their perceptions are indicative of limited knowledge about the mode of transmission and prevention of HIV.