Prevalence and predictors of willingness to care for relatives living with HIV/AIDS: Evidence from women of reproductive age in Nigeria

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) constitutes threat to 
human life. Escalating number of HIV/AIDS cases in Nigeria demands for more relatives that will provide 
care for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Receiving care from relatives provides PLWHA the 
strength to confront life. Information on Willingness to Provide Care (WPC) for PLWHA is insufficient in 
Nigeria; hence, this study. This cross-sectional design study utilized Nigeria Demographic and Health 
Survey, 2008 dataset with focus on women of age 15 to 49 (n=27, 195). The dependent variable was WPC 
for Relatives Living with HIV/AIDS (RLWHA). Data was analysed using Chi-square and logistic 
regression models (α=5.0%). Mean age of the women was 28.79±9.4 years and the prevalence of WPC 
for RLWHA was 65.4% with urban women (70.8%) more WPC for RLWHA than their counterparts in the 
rural areas (61.9%) (p<0.0001). The percentage of women WPC for RLWHA increases with increasing 
level of education (p<0.0001). The identified predictors of WPC for RLWHA were the age, residence, 
religion, region, education, knowing someone who had died of HIV/AIDS, knowing someone denied of 
health services because of AIDS and believing that PLWHA should be ashamed of themselves. Majority 
of women in Nigeria were WPC for RLWHA. However, programmes that can improve WPC for RLWHA in 
Nigeria are indispensable.