Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus Information: The Challenges of Hearing-Impaired Adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adolescents with hearing impairments have similar sexual risk exposures as their hearing counterparts, yet their sexual information needs are often ignored. This paper examines the disparities in information about the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection among hearing and hearing-impaired adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria using a comparative cross-sectional survey design. Results showed that awareness about HIV was significantly lower among hearing-impaired adolescents. Most of them did not even know how HIV was transmitted, while many believed that HIV was transmitted through mosquito bites or by eating together or sharing utensils. Only a few understood that unprotected sex was a major risk factor for HIV transmission. Similarly, most of them did not know how HIV could be prevented. Their HIV risk perception for was equally low as only a third had ever tested for HIV compared to two-thirds of their hearing counterparts. The results of the study suggests that significant differences in HIV information and knowledge exists between hearing and hearing-impaired adolescents in Nigeria. The gap is attributed to lack of sexuality and HIV-specific education for adolescents with disabilities, thus unduly exposing them to avoidable HIV risk. It is therefore crucial for adaptation of disability friendly learning strategies that forms an integral part of the Family Life and HIV and AIDS Education curriculum. Equally important is special training for sign language teachers in order to correctly interpret HIV and AIDS information to adolescents using the sign language grammar, syntaxes and communication concepts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS): Global Report: UNAIDS Report on Global AIDS Epidemic 2012. http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/epidemiology/2012/gr2012/20121120_UNAIDS_Global_Report_2012_with_annexes_en.pdf (2012). Accessed 7 Jan 2014

  2. Onayade, A.A., Abiona, T.C., Ugbala, C., Alozie, G., Adetuyi, O.: Determinants of consistent condom use among adolescents and young adults attending a tertiary educational institution in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Niger. Postgrad. Med. J. 15, 185–191 (2008)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Yan, H., Chen, W., Wu, H., Bi, Y., Zhang, M., Li, S., Braun, K.L.: Multiple sex partner behavior in female undergraduate students in China: a multi-campus survey. BMC Public Health 9, 305–316 (2009)

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Aslam, A., Szczuka, J.: State of the World’s Children 2012. United Nations publication, New York (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA): Global AIDS Response: Nigeria Country Report 20, pp 10–23. NACA, Abuja (2012)

  6. Groce, N.E.: HIV/AIDS and Disability: Capturing Hidden Voices. The World Bank and Yale University, Washington, DC (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shisana, O., Rehle, T., Simbayi, L.C., Zuma, K., Jooste, S., Pillay-van-Wyk, V., Swartz, D.: A comparative study of sex knowledge among deaf the hearing college freshmen. Sex. Disabil. 11, 129–147 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Taegtmeyer, M., Hightower, A., Opiyo, W., Mwachiro, L., Henderson, K., Angala, P., Ngare, C., Marum, E.: A peer-led HIV counselling and testing programme for the deaf in Kenya. Disabil. Rehabil. 31(6), 508–514 (2009). doi:10.1080/09638280802133115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Touko, A., Mboua, C.P., Tohmuntain, P.M., Perrot, A.B.: Sexual vulnerability and HIV seroprevalence among the deaf and hearing-impaired in Cameroon. J. Int. AIDS Soc. (2010). doi:10.1186/1758-2652-13-5

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. National Population Commission (NPC): Population Census 1991: Analytical Report at the National Level. NPC, Abuja (1998)

  11. Olusanya, B.O., Okolo, A.A., Ijaduola, G.T.A.: The hearing profile of Nigerian school children. Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 55, 173–179 (2000)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kennedy, S., Buchholz, C.: HIV and AIDS among the deaf. Sex. Disabil. 13, 145–158 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Heuttel, K., Rothstein, W.: HIV/AIDS knowledge and information sources among deaf and hard of hearing college students. Am. Ann. Deaf 146, 280–286 (2001)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Groce, N.E., Yousafzai, A.K., Van Der Maas, F.: HIV/AIDS and disability: differences in HIV/AIDS knowledge between deaf and hearing people in Nigeria. Disabil. Rehabil. 29, 367–371 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Joseph, J.M., Sawyer, R., Desmond, S.: Sexual knowledge, behavior and sources of information among deaf and hard of hearing college students. Am. Ann. Deaf 140(4), 338–345 (1995)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ndlovu, R.J., Sihlangu, R.H.: Preferred sources of information on AIDS among high school students from selected schools in Zimbabwe. J. Adv. Nurs. 17(4), 507–513 (1992)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Groce, N., Yousafzai, A., Dlamini, P., Zalud, S., Wirz, S.: HIV/AIDS and disability: a pilot survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge among a deaf population in Swaziland. Int. J. Rehabil. Res 29(4), 319–324 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Chaveiro, N., Porto, C.C., Barbosa, M.A.: The relation between deaf patients and the doctor. Braz. J. Otorhinolaryngol. 75(1), 147–150 (2009)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Delpierre, C., Dray-Spira, R., Cusin, L., Machou, B., Matrice, P., Lang, T., Lert, F.: Correlates of late HIV presentation: implications for testing policy. Int. J. STD AIDS 18(5), 312–317 (2007)

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Wanyenze, R.K., Kamya, M.R., Fatch, R., Mayanja-Kizza, H., Baveewo, S., Sawires, S., Bangsberg, D.R., Coates, T., Hahn, J.A.: Missed opportunities for HIV testing and late-stage diagnosis among HIV infected patients in Uganda. PLoS ONE 6(7), e21794 (2011). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021794

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Yousafzai, A.K., Dlamini, P.J., Groce, N., Wirz, S.: Knowledge, personal risk and experiences of HIV/AIDS among people with disabilities in Swaziland. Int. J. Rehabil. Res. 27(3), 247–251 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Oyewumi, A.M., Adeniyi, S.O., Fakolade, O.A.: An assessment of the level of influence of family life and hiv/aids education on knowledge, attitude and decision making among adolescents with hearing impairment in some states in Nigeria. Int. J. Spec. Educ. 26(3), 5–11 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, East-West Road Choba, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Charles Tobin-West

  2. Department of Social Welfare Services, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alikahia, P.M.B. 6173, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Yetunde Akani

Authors
  1. Charles Tobin-West
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yetunde Akani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles Tobin-West.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tobin-West, C., Akani, Y. Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus Information: The Challenges of Hearing-Impaired Adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Sex Disabil 32, 299–309 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-014-9362-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-014-9362-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation