Social Determinants of Health and Knowledge About HIV/AIDS Transmission Among Adolescents
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HIV is a virus that leads to AIDS. Millions of people are living with HIV. Globally, there is an increased incidence of this disease among adolescents. In literature, there is a gap regarding how social determinants of health have jointly or singly contributed to HIV/AIDS transmission. With the application of the AIDS risk reduction model (ARRM) to the secondary analysis of survey data, the purpose of this study was to determine whether any significant relationships existed between adolescents’ childhood health care factors, demographic factors, social-level factors, structural-level factors, aspects of disease management factors, and knowledge about HIV transmission/AIDSamong Nigerian adolescents. Survey data were used from Measure Demographicand Health Survey (MDHS) in Nigeria for 2008. Multiple linear regressions revealed that childhood vaccinations were a weak predictor for HIV transmission risk (R2═0.020). Gender, age, place of residence, education, religion and culture, some disease management aspects (e.g., accessibility and affordability of care), and wealth index were all significant but weak predictors of knowledge of HIV/AIDS (R2=0.016, R2=0.019, R2=0.003 & R2═0.015). The potential positive social change effect of the study would be HIV transmission reduction through increasing knowledge of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Nigeria. The results could be used by both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to influence childhood healthcare improvements and advance education to help reduce or eradicate the causes of HIV/ AIDS transmission among adolescents in Nigeria.
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About the Book
Godwin C. Osakwe draws on his academic knowledge and painstaking research to determine if there’s a link between knowledge and transmission of HIV/AIDS among youths in this important study. The author, who holds a doctorate degree in public health and a business management degree, shares broad information and engages in a comprehensive review of the origin of the disease. Focusing on Nigeria, he examines a multitude of factors that may play a role in the transmission of HIV, such as adolescent health care, demographics, social factors, and more. The goal of the study is to lessen HIV transmission by increasing knowledge about the disease. Governmental and nongovernmental organizations can use its findings to influence childhood health-care improvements and advance education to help reduce or eradicate HIV/AIDS transmission. With adolescents making up 23 percent of Nigeria’s population—and given this group is likely to engage in risky behavior—there’s never been a more critical time to strive to prevent the transmission of this devastating and, still, deadly virus.
About the Author
Godwin C. Osakwe, MBA, MPH, PhD, earned a master of business administration from Schiller International University and a PhD in public health from Walden University. He is an adjunct professor online, teaches courses in health sciences, and also works at UNC-REX hospital as a patient safety associate. He lives in North Carolina.