A review of the last three Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reports has indicated appreciable increases in awareness about HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. Across age groups and gender classifications, there have been increases in knowledge about the viral disease.
The trend between 2008, 2013, and 2018 also indicated a significantly higher increase in knowledge about HIV and AIDS among women than men.
For instance, the percentage change between 2013 and 2018 in the knowledge of HIV and AIDS ranged between 6.5 percent and 18.8 percent for women. For men, it was between minus 4 percent and 10.1 percent across the age group.
Similarly, between 2008 and 2013, percentage changes in a comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS among women across age groups ranged between 73.6 percent and 85 percent. On the other hand, changes in knowledge among men across age groups ranged between minus 2.1 percent to 29.2 percent.
Percentage Changes in Comprehensive Knowledge about HIV and AIDS Across Successive Years
| 2018 and 2013 | 2013 and 2008 | |||
| Age Group | Women (%) | Men (%) | Women (%) | Men (%) |
| 15-24 | 76.03 | 0.60 | 9.01 | 2.76 |
| 15-19 | 70.09 | -2.05 | 13.71 | 3.90 |
| 20-24 | 82.20 | 8.55 | 6.45 | 3.76 |
| 25-29 | 74.30 | 25.13 | 6.77 | -3.98 |
| 30-39 | 73.59 | 28.07 | 15.45 | 3.91 |
| 40-49 | 84.96 | 29.21 | 18.84 | 10.08 |
On a general note, there have been increases in comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS among men and women in Nigeria. This implies that across gender and age classifications, more Nigerians understand what HIV and AIDS mean, the means of transmission, and the prevention measures. However, more women than men appear to have comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.
Comprehensive Knowledge about HIV and AIDS Across Age Groups and Gender
| 2018 | 2013 | 2008 | ||||
| Age Group | Women (%) | Men (%) | Women (%) | Men (%) | Women (%) | Men (%) |
| 15-24 | 42.6 | 33.7 | 24.2 | 33.5 | 22.2 | 32.6 |
| 15-19 | 38.1 | 28.7 | 22.4 | 29.3 | 19.7 | 28.2 |
| 20-24 | 48.1 | 41.9 | 26.4 | 38.6 | 24.8 | 37.2 |
| 25-29 | 49.5 | 48.3 | 28.4 | 38.6 | 26.6 | 40.2 |
| 30-39 | 49.3 | 51.1 | 28.4 | 39.9 | 24.6 | 38.4 |
| 40-49 | 45.5 | 52.2 | 24.6 | 40.4 | 20.7 | 36.7 |
Knowledge of HIV Prevention Methods Among Nigerian Women
The trend also reveals that there have been appreciable changes in knowledge about HIV prevention methods among Nigerians in the different geopolitical zones of the country. From the trend, more women and men in Nigeria are likely to use condoms or limit sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner in 2013 than in 2008. Also, there was a jump in the number of women and men who understand and appreciate HIV prevention measures between 2013 and 2018. More Nigerians are also likely to use more than one HIV prevention measures in 2013 and 2018.
Knowledge of HIV Prevention Methods Among Nigerian Women
| Using Condoms | Limiting Sexual Intercourse to One Uninfected Partner | Both | |||||||
| 2018 (%) | 2013 (%) | 2008 (%) | 2018 (%) | 2013 (%) | 2008 (%) | 2018 (%) | 2013 (%) | 2008 (%) | |
| North Central | 67.4 | 60.7 | 48.3 | 79.9 | 73.4 | 62.1 | 65.4 | 58.2 | 45.4 |
| North East | 63.1 | 48.6 | 38.6 | 89.1 | 71.8 | 62.3 | 61.6 | 45.8 | 34.7 |
| North West | 75.1 | 48.9 | 46.4 | 92.4 | 79.6 | 66.2 | 74 | 46.5 | 43 |
| South East | 78.4 | 61.2 | 60.9 | 94.6 | 82.7 | 77.8 | 77 | 56.4 | 55.1 |
| South South | 74.6 | 68.8 | 64.6 | 85.3 | 79 | 73.2 | 70.6 | 63.9 | 59.8 |
| South West | 77.7 | 69.6 | 58.9 | 85.4 | 80.4 | 67.3 | 73.6 | 65.2 | 50.2 |
Knowledge of HIV Prevention Methods Among Nigerian Men
| Using Condoms | Limiting Sexual Intercourse to One Uninfected Partner | Both | |||||||
| 2018 | 2013 | 2008 | 2018 | 2013 | 2008 | 2018 | 2013 | 2008 | |
| North Central | 78.7 | 66.1 | 74.3 | 82.2 | 82.1 | 80.5 | 76 | 61.6 | 69.6 |
| North East | 63.3 | 71.5 | 71.7 | 74.4 | 83.8 | 82.1 | 57.9 | 68.8 | 68.6 |
| North West | 77.5 | 70.5 | 65.5 | 87.9 | 83.5 | 80.3 | 73.3 | 68.4 | 63 |
| South East | 90.2 | 79.4 | 76 | 95 | 90.3 | 87.6 | 87.9 | 75.7 | 72.4 |
| South South | 84.6 | 85.9 | 77.6 | 87.6 | 90.4 | 88.6 | 80.4 | 81.6 | 74.9 |
| South West | 79.8 | 76 | 72.8 | 87.5 | 81.9 | 81.5 | 75.5 | 70.2 | 66.9 |
The trend of HIV and AIDS knowledge has shown the ratio of awareness of HIV prevention measures among women and men in Nigeria. For instance, using 2018 as a baseline, between 63.3 percent and 90.2 percent of men in Nigeria would use a condom. On the other hand, between 63.1 percent and 78.4 percent of Nigeria women are likely to use a condom.
Also, between 74.4 percent and 95 percent of Nigerian men would limit sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner. However, more women ranging between 79.9 percent and 94.6 percent are likely to limit sexual intercourse to one infected partner.
Across geopolitical zones, awareness of HIV prevention methods for men in 2018 appears to be highest in southeastern Nigeria. This is followed by south-south, south-west, north-central, northeast, and north-west. For women, awareness of prevention measures is highest in southeastern Nigeria for 2018. South-west, north-west, south-south, north-central, and North-east come next in decreasing order of knowledge.
While there have been changes in the perception of HIV and AIDS as well as the prevention measures in Nigeria, the data has also revealed the huge gaps in perception of the deadly virus. As of 2018, between 50.5 percent and 61.9 percent of Nigerian women between ages 15 and 49 lacked knowledge on HIV and AIDS. For men within the same age bracket, between 47.8 percent and 71.3 percent lack knowledge about the virus in 2018. Thus, Nigeria needs to intensify its efforts on HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention. There is also a need to investigate declines in awareness on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria which was observed among men.
Perhaps there are lessons to learn from HIV and AIDS trend in Nigeria. The distribution of awareness of prevention methods indicates a significant level of competitiveness among geo-political zones. This trend is different from many other socio-economic indicators where states in the north of Nigeria drag behind. Thus, policymakers should attempt to inquire into the HIV and AIDS framework and draw lessons for all-round socio-economic improvements across the country.