Determinants of the low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mwinilunga District in Northwestern Province, Zambia
Date
2012-08-08
Authors
Mundongo, Ngambo Ellah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem all over the world. It is a threat to economies and to the very fabric of our societies. In badly affected countries, the socioeconomic effect of this most destructive disease is measured in loss of productivity and deteriorating public health services such as health and education as key staff fall ill and die. The virus is increasingly targeting women, babies and young people. However, the distribution of the rates of infection is not equal around the globe. There are puzzling discrepancies in HIV/AIDS prevalence between different countries and regions, despite the presence of what seems to be similar risk factors. Within countries, there are variations in prevalence rates by region.The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mwinilunga district in Northwestern province. A cross-sectional comparative descriptive study was conducted in Mwinilunga and Solwezi districts with Mwinilunga having had a moderately lower prevalence of HIV/AIDS than Solwezi.The study was conducted in all the 5 high schools of the two districts. The study population included male and female students from grade ten to grade twelve. The age range was from 16 to 24 years. The sample was selected using a systematic sampling method. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 130 students and a focus group discussion guide which was administered to 120 students. Five FGDs were conducted in each district. Each FGD comprised of 12 discussants.Data was analyzed using SPSS computer software package. The Chi-square (X^) test was used to test for significant associations. Statistical significance was achieved if P<0.05. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to control for confounding factors.The results revealed a significant association between ethnicity (tribe) and low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS with more respondents from Mwinilunga (64.6%) than Solwezi (18.5%) belonging to the Lunda tribe. The respondents who were Lunda by tribe were 6.24 times more likely to have been from Mwinilunga district than the respondents who were of other tribes like Lenje, Ngoni, Bemba, kaonde, Tonga, Tumbuka and Lozi.Furthermore, a significant association was observed between male circumcision and low prevalence of HIV/AIDS with more males (69.2%) from Mwinilunga than Solwezi (30.8%) among the respondents who said they were circumcised.Another significant association was observed between initiation ceremonies and low prevalence of HIV/AIDS with more from Mwinilunga (90.85%) than Solwezi (61.5%) among the respondents who said young people in the district went through initiation ceremonies. Those who said young people in the district went through initiation ceremonies were 3.16 times more likely to have been from Mwinilunga than those who said that young people did not go through initiation ceremonies.Additionally, a significant association was observed between Christian religious denomination and low prevalence of HIV/AIDS with more respondents in Mwinilunga than Solwezi among the respondents who said they belonged to the CMML Church.Consequently, we conclude that tribe, male circumcision initiation ceremonies and Christian religious denomination may be the major factors influencing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mwinilunga district in Northwestern province.However, the descriptive study design used in the current study is a weak study design. There is need for stronger study designs to be used so as to establish the cause-effect relationships among the factors identified in the current study. Therefore, since we are now aware of the association between HIV/AIDS and male circumcision, a controlled trial of circumcision is needed to see if male circumcision would help to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic.From the findings of the study, we can see that to scale down the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, we need to take a holistic view towards its prevention by considering some social, cultural and religious factors. Male circumcision might only be one component in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Description
Keywords
HIV (Viruses)--Mwinilunga,Solwezi , Circumcision--Mwinilunga,Solwezi