HIV/AIDS. Culture of HIV/AIDS Stigmatization in Nigeria.

Culture of HIV/AIDS Stigmatization in Nigeria
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Culture of HIV/AIDS Stigmatization in Nigeria
The culture of stigmatization is the primary problem that prevents the eradication of infections caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and deaths related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria. A research done by Clifford Odimegwu, Olatunji Alabi, and Joshua Akinyemi shows that Nigeria has approximately 3.8 million individuals who are infected with HIV/AIDS (Odimegwu, Akinyemi, & Alabi, 2017). Researchers assert that the main barriers to treatment, testing and treatment are discrimination and stigma. The culture of stigmatization in Nigeria makes it difficult for infected people to come forward so that they can get the appropriate treatment and prevent new infections.
The article “HIV-Stigma in Nigeria: Review of Research Studies, Policies, and Programmes” would have used informatics to show the figures of how the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reduced HIV infections in West Africa. Instead, it portrays that MDGs reduced HIV infections by 40% and deaths related to AIDS by 42% (Odimegwu, Akinyemi, & Alabi, 2017). Since the primary focus of the study was on Nigeria, researchers would have gathered data to show the specific figures. Similarly, when it comes to the adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS infections, informatics and appropriate data analysis methods should have been used, such as regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Researchers did not depend on informatics to show how Nigeria is addressing the issue of the culture of stigmatization for people with HIV/AIDS. In particular, they give general percentages without indicating specific figures. If researchers used informatics, they would have created a good picture of how stigmatization is a primary barrier to preventing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths (Odimegwu, Alabi, Wet, & Akinyemi, 2018). The only drivers of change discussed in the article include adopting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting the accessibility of treatment, and the introduction and support of programs and policies that eliminate discrimination and stigmatization of individuals with HIV/AIDS.
One of the reasons why it is hard to erase the issue of HIV/AIDS stigmatization is the myths and misinformation. For example, some people in Nigeria believe that individuals become infected with HIV due to adultery or bad sexu...