NIGERIA: More women shun HIV-positive relatives

More men than women in Nigeria are willing to care for relatives living with HIV/AIDS, a new survey has found.

A local newspaper, This Day, said the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey for 2003 showed that although women were perceived to be more caring than men, fewer women were actually willing to care for HIV-positive relatives, regardless of their sex.

The biennial survey suggested that such attitudes "can worsen the spread and the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic".

The report states: "Due to the fear of discrimination, individuals living with HIV/AIDS may be less inclined to live freely, declare and acknowledge their HIV status. This can lead to continued under-reporting of the epidemic, and a resistance to the use of voluntary confidential counselling and testing services."

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]