Free Paper Sample: HIV/AIDS Cases in Nigeria

Introduction

HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease drastically affecting the global community for almost five decades since its first diagnosis (WHO, 2020). The epidemic has no known cure despite the collective efforts demonstrated by scientists and medical practitioners to develop a drug that entirely fights the condition (Avert, 2020). However, while a cure is yet to be found, scientists have developed drugs that help patients suffering from the condition to control the effects of the virus in their body, thus managing their condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers HIV/AIDS a major global health issue that has claimed over 33 million lives since its first diagnosis (Avert, 2020). Despite its high infectious and mortality rate, over the years access to information, including HIV prevention programs, treatment, and care has made the chronic condition manageable, enabling the infected persons to live longer.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Recent statistics indicate that by the end of 2019, those suffering from the condition were estimated to be approximately 38 million necessitating a global response to curb the ever-increasing figures (Avert, 2020). Typically, owing to the global response, 68% of adults and 53% of children infected with the virus as of 2019 were under antiretroviral medication and therapy (Avert, 2020). The continued awareness has also positively impacted the course to fight and manage the virus, specifically by increasing the number of people accessing antiretroviral medication with a 2.4% margin in 2020 to 26 million from 25.4 million in 2019 (Avert, 2020). Important to note, that while the global community through medical institutions has invested heavily in fighting and eradicating HIV/AIDS, the epidemic continues to thrive affecting different demographics uniquely based on society's social and cultural norms (Avert, 2020).

Description of the Problem

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is an economic hub renowned for its vastness and numerous economic activities. The country has a redefined social scope in Africa, with the highest population of about 200 million individuals. According to Gap Minder, Nigeria has the second-highest rate of HIV/AIDS infections globally not to mention that the country also records high numbers in terms of newly infected entities daily (Gapminder, 2020). Particularly, Nigeria has a total of 1.9 million individuals infected with the virus (Avert, 2020). The country also had a 1.5% adult HIV prevalence, especially for individuals aged between 15 and 49 years (Gapminder, 2020).

The number of new infections as of 2018 stood at 130000, leading to the death of about 55, 000 individuals (Avert, 2020). 55% and 35% of adults and children respectively infected with the virus were on antiretroviral medication and therapy (Avert, 2020). However, a significant percentage of the infected persons in Nigeria remain unaware of their HIV status as research indicates (Avert, 2020). Also, access to HIV-related treatment and medication remains a big issue in Nigeria, resulting in an increased number of the epidemic's related deaths.

Typically, this research seeks to explore why Nigeria is the second country globally leading in the number of persons infected with HIV. The study will examine the parties affected while assessing some of the social and cultural factors that facilitate an increase in the number of newly infected individuals. Considering the level of HIV awareness is still an issue in this part of Sub-Saharan Africa, the study will assess the strategies embraced by the relevant entities, including the government in handling the epidemic (Klopper & Hill, 2020).

Typically, different nations across the world are struggling with the issue of HIV/AIDS. As such, millions of citizens are directly and indirectly affected, jeopardizing the country's workforce and market dynamics, among other social, economic, and political aspects. For instance, in Nigeria, millions of citizens are infected and affected by the epidemic, leading to compromised social structures that further expose the country to increased HIV cases.

Despite the current struggles in developed economies, underdeveloped and developing countries are largely and disproportionately affected by the rampant issue of HIV/AIDS. Some of the prevalent inequities across the distinct countries include inadequate testing capabilities, compromised social and cultural norms, and compromised healthcare structures and resources critical to facilitate the identification of persons infected with the virus while creating awareness of the importance of individuals knowing their HIV status and consequently controlling or managing their condition (Artiga & Orgera, 2020). Besides, Nigeria also lacks robust LGBTQ policies and representation, not to mention that the government, specifically the security and enforcement agencies, are corrupt.

Socioeconomic, Political, and Cultural influences that Affect HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

In Nigeria, HIV is a socio-cultural and socioeconomic condition whose paradigm of infection within the various states is a reflection of the socio-cultural and socio-economic profiles of the local communities (Simon et al., 2016). As a society, Nigeria is founded on robust cultural beliefs and traditions that continue to dominate and shape the country's social, cultural, and political aspects. The population is also renowned for its quest for a good lifestyle defined by partying, among other social aspects (Simon et al., 2016). However, despite the country's cultural beliefs and the people's love for a good life, the country has over the decades failed to create enough opportunities for its vast and diverse populace, exposing it to compromised social and economic factors that fuel the rapid spread of the epidemic (WHO, 2010).

While everyone who does not take the needed precautions against the virus is at risk of infection, research indicates that men who have sex with fellow men are mostly at risk and are the most affected social group in Nigeria. The group's prevalence stood at 23% which was drastically high compared to the 14.4% prevalence rate amongst the sex workers who came in second in the most affected groups (Simon et al., 2016). The Nigerian government also discovered that 10% of the new daily infections were attributed to men who had sex with men. As such, the Nigerian government increased the punishment for individuals found culpable of such acts, among other homosexual acts to 14 years in jail (Simon et al., 2016).

While arresting gay men is identified by the Nigerian government as a strategy for reducing the number of daily infections, it has also been a significant hindrance to civil groups and organizations to work the LGBTQ society prompting its members to go underground fearing the government's harsh sentence (Simon et al., 2016). Consequently, the number of new infections continues to spike, particularly because LGBTQ members are afraid to seek healthcare services despite the Nigerian constitution providing that everyone is entitled to access to healthcare services.

Socially, the spread of HIV in Nigeria is largely influenced and facilitated by factors such as alcohol and drugs. Typically, alcohol and substance play a major role in impairing a person's judgment and the need to support it makes one vulnerable to casual, commercial, and unprotected sex (Simon et al., 2016). Continuous use of alcohol and other substances has also exposed individuals to prostitution, a major contributor to the increased HIV cases in Nigeria. Multiple sexual practices are also part of the social aspects that further expose Nigeria to increased HIV cases (Simon et al., 2016). The Nigerian social structure favors and encourages men to have multiple sex partners while women are required to be faithful to their husbands. As such, most, if not all, households in Nigeria are susceptible to HIV because of gender inequality and patriarchy where men take charge and dominate society (Simon et al., 2016).

Nigeria's cultural practices are inevitably the primary components largely contributing to the increased HIV cases in the country (AHRQ, n.d). Traditional practices such as polygamous marriages continue to thrive in Nigeria despite the international human rights instruments condemning it on equality grounds, claiming that such a practice subjugates and diminishes women in society (Simon et al., 2016). Ideally, polygamous marriage is an institution that promotes concurrent sex amongst the many wives and their husbands.

Research indicates that about 9.9% of women and 9% of men in polygamous marriages are infected with the virus as compared to 6.6% and 7.7% of women and men in monogamous unions respectively (Simon et al., 2016). Widow inheritance is a cultural factor that has, for decades, exposed Nigeria to increased HIV cases. In this practice, the wife of the deceased in remarried in the clan as a way of maintaining the family's ties and more importantly, protecting the value of the paid bride price.

Geographically, Nigeria is strategically positioned with a rich natural resource, including crude oil. The availability of oil in Nigeria has attracted more people from the rural parts of the country into the major cities such as Abuja and Lagos heightening the social and cultural practices known to facilitate the spread of HIV in the country. As mentioned earlier, while Nigeria is an economic powerhouse in the Sub-Saharan part of Africa, it has failed to create enough opportunities for its vast populace.

Particularly, people from the rural parts of the country have shifted to the urban areas in search of opportunities (Simon et al., 2016). Unfortunately, the urban areas do not have enough opportunities for everyone exposing men to menial jobs and women to prostitution. Due to poverty, those infected with the virus are not able to access health care chiefly because of their limited financial capabilities, thus exposing them to HIV-related deaths triggered by opportunistic diseases (Simon et al., 2016).

Ultimately, the Nigerian government has also been a major player in facilitating the rapid spread of the epidemic. Specifically, the government has failed to create a robust awareness plan and campaign to familiarize its diverse populace with the epidemic while enlightening them on measures to protect themselves from the condition, thus reducing the alarming infection rate. Also, government institutions, particularly the enforcement officers, are corruptly inhibiting the enactment and implementation of functional policies regulating the country's social, cultural, and economic scopes.

Strategies and Gaps

A 2016 survey indicated that of all the new HIV infections in West and Central Africa, Nigeria accounted for 59%, which is relatively high compared to other regions in Africa and across the globe (Avert, 2020). As such, the National Aids Control Authority devised a strategic framework to facilitate its course of fighting the deadly virus in Nigeria. Specifically, NACA aimed at providing 90% of the Nigerian population with HIV/AIDS prevention measures by 2021 (Avert, 2020). Besides, NACA aims at strengthening Nigeria's social structures, critical to reducing the high infection rates.

Some of the socioeconomic and cultural interventions that the government of Nigeria, through its respective agencies, have used to fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country include:

Condom Use

NACA has encouraged the use of condoms as one of the strategies to minimize HIV infection rate in Nigeria. While a significant number of the country's population embrace condom use, some are reluctant, particularly amongst substance users (Avert, 2020). However, condom use faces criticism from cultural and religious groups in Nigeria,...