Awareness and Knowledge of HIV in the Workplace Policy Among Employees, Employers, and Decision-makers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
.jpg)
Abstract:
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) anti-stigma and discrimination policies are aimed
at protecting the rights of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). In response to the
stigma and discrimination experienced by PLHIV in the state, Akwa Ibom State,
like many states in Nigeria, enacted the HIV in the Workplace policy (HIV_WPP).
Despite its adoption, many PLHIV still experience stigma and discrimination in
workplaces in the state. This study was undertaken to assess the level of
awareness and knowledge of the HIV_WPP and related organizational policies in
Akwa Ibom State across the private and public sectors. A
cross-sectional study using a mixed methods approach was conducted for 591
consecutively recruited employees and 43 employers/ decision-makers across 23
organizations in the State. Data was collected from October 2022 to
February 2023. Results were analyzed using SPSS 15.1 for quantitative and NVivo
10 for qualitative data. The study showed that 464 (78.5%) employees and 42 (95.3%)
of employers/decision-makers, were unaware of the Akwa Ibom State HIV in the
workplace policy (AKS_HIV_WPP). Also, 560 (94.8%) employees had poor knowledge
of this policy. A larger proportion of respondents knew more about their
organizational policies than the AKS_HIV_WPP. Older respondents (41.1% versus
37.5%, p=0.026) had significantly higher levels of knowledge of the policy. Three
hundred and twenty-four (45.2%) respondents had good knowledge of their
organizational policies. The awareness and knowledge of the AKS_HIV_WPP was suboptimal.
It is recommended that relevant state agencies create awareness of the AKS_HIV_WPP
in all public and private organizations through public-private collaboration.
References:
[1] UNAIDS (2014) The Gap report
2014 https://files.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaids
publication /2014/UNAIDS_Gap_report_en.pdf.
[2] UNAIDS (2023) Global
partnership for action to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and
discrimination. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/global-partnership-hiv-stigma-discrimination_en.pdf.
[4] Thapa, S., Hannes, K., Cargo, M.,
Buve, A., Aro, A. R., Mathei, C., 2017, Building a conceptual framework to
study the effect of HIV stigma-reduction intervention strategies on HIV test
uptake: a scoping review, J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care., 28(4), 545–60.
[8] UNAIDS (2017) Data Book
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/20170720_Data_book_2017_en.pdf.
[10] Johnson, O.E., 2012, Social
impact of HIV/AIDS on clients attending a teaching hospital in Southern Nigeria,
SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 9(2), 47-53.
[11]
NACA (2021) Nigerian People Living with HIV Stigma Index survey
2.0 Report- NACA Nigeria https://naca.gov.ng/nigeria-people-living-with-hiv-plhiv-stigma-index-survey-2-0-report/ Accessed June 2023
[13] Liu, L., Liu, Y.
P., Wang, J., An, L. W., Jiao, J. M., 2016, Use of a
knowledge-attitude-behaviour education programme for Chinese adults undergoing
maintenance haemodialysis: Randomized controlled trial, J Int Med Res.,
2016 Jun, 44(3), 557-68, doi: 10.1177/0300060515604980, Epub 2016 Mar 7, PMID:
26951842; PMCID: PMC5536721.
[14] Rahbar, T.,
Garg, S., Tripathi, R., Gupta, V. K., Singh, M. M., 2007, "Knowledge,
attitude, behavior and practice (KABP) regarding HIV/AIDS among pregnant women
attending PPTCT programme in New Delhi, J Commun Dis., Sep, 39(3), 179-84,
PMID: 18697582.
[16] Badru, T., Mwaisaka, J.,
Khamofu, H., Agbakwuru, C., Adedokun, O., Pandey, S.R, & Torpey, K., 2020, HIV
comprehensive knowledge and prevalence among young adolescents in Nigeria:
evidence from Akwa Ibom AIDS indicator survey, BMC Public Health, 20, 45,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7890-y.
[17] Fisher, A.A., Laing, J.E., Stoeckel, J.E., Townsend, J.W., 1998, Handbook
for Family Planning Operations Research Design. Population Council, New
York.
[18] Mabuza, C., 2011, Evaluation of the management of the HIV and AIDS
workplace policy at Statistics South Africa. A dissertation submitted to the
University of South Africa, Pretoria, http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5027 http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5027.
[19] Bhuyan, A., A. Jorgensen, S. Sharma, 2010, Taking the Pulse of
Policy: The Policy Implementation Assessment Tool, Washington, DC, Futures
Group, Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1. Accessed Aug 2022.
[21] People Living with HIV Stigma
Index: India Report (2011)
https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/resource/plhiv-stigma-index-india.pdf.
Accessed June 2023
[22] Hewko, S. J., Cummings, G. G.,
Pietrosanu, M., Edwards, N., 2018, The Impact of Quality Assurance Initiatives
and Workplace Policies and Procedures on HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma Experienced by
Patients and Nurses in Regions with High Prevalence of HIV/AIDS, AIDS Behav.
Dec, 22(12), 3836-3846, doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2066-9. PMID: 29476436; PMCID:
PMC6208913.
[23] Oloya, P., 2009, Uganda
Implementation of Workplace HIV/AIDS Policies In Private Institutions In Uganda
Case Study Of Reproductive Health Uganda And Uganda Telecom Limited; Post
graduate dissertation. http://ir.umu.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/20.500.12280/833.
[24] Mbulaje, P., Muula, A., 2020,
Evaluation of HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy at Nkhotakota District Council,
Malawi, Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202004.0493.v1
[25]
Thapa, S., Hannes, K., Cargo, M., Buve, A., Peters, S., Dauphin, S.,
Mathei, C., 2018, Stigma reduction in relation to HIV test uptake in low- and
middle-income countries: a realist review, BMC Public Health, 18, 1277, Published online 2018 Nov 20. doi:
10.1186/s12889-018-6156-4.
[26] Ekpo, A., Nja, G., Mkpong, U.,
2020, Final report on gender analysis and HIV stigma index study in Akwa Ibom
and Cross River States conducted by Center for Clinical Care and Clinical
Research (CCCRN). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348740627_Accessed June 2023.
