HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria

Augustine Ankomah1, Godpower Omoregie1, Zacch Akinyemi2, Jennifer Anyanti1, Olaronke Ladipo1, Samson Adebayo11Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria; 2Population Services International, Kigali, RwandaBackground: Over one-third of sex workers in Nigeria are infected with human immunodeficiency vir...

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Autores principales:	Ankomah A, Omoregie G, Akinyemi Z, Anyanti J, Ladipo O, Adebayo S
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Dove Medical Press 2011
Materias:	Immunologic diseases. Allergy RC581-607
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/cc66efe0c8f84d829c048633e634eec6
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:cc66efe0c8f84d829c048633e634eec62021-12-02T00:27:21ZHIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria1179-1373https://doaj.org/article/cc66efe0c8f84d829c048633e634eec62011-07-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.dovepress.com/hiv-related-risk-perception-among-female-sex-workers-in-nigeria-a7973https://doaj.org/toc/1179-1373Augustine Ankomah1, Godpower Omoregie1, Zacch Akinyemi2, Jennifer Anyanti1, Olaronke Ladipo1, Samson Adebayo11Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria; 2Population Services International, Kigali, RwandaBackground: Over one-third of sex workers in Nigeria are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), yet there is a lack of understanding of sex workers&rsquo; own perception of sexual risk-taking. Applying the theory of cognitive dissonance, this paper examined the personal HIV risk perception of brothel-based sex workers.Methods: The study is based on 24 focus group discussions held among brothel-based sex workers in four geographically and culturally dispersed cities in Nigeria.Results: It was found that sex workers underestimated their risk of infection and rationalized, defended, or justified their behaviors, a typical psychological response to worry, threat, and anxiety arising from the apparent discrepancies between beliefs and behaviors. To reduce dissonance, many sex workers had a strong belief in fatalism, predestination, and faith-based invulnerability to HIV infection. Many believed that one will not die of acquired immune deficiency syndrome if it is not ordained by God. The sex workers also had a high level of HIV-related stigma.Conclusion: From these findings, most sex workers considered risk reduction and in particular condom use as far beyond their control or even unnecessary, as a result of their strong beliefs in fatalism and predestination. Therefore, one critical area of intervention is the need to assist sex workers to develop accurate means of assessing their personal vulnerability and self-appraisal of HIV-related risk.Keywords: female sex workers, cognitive dissonance, risk perception, risky behavior, focus group discussions, NigeriaAnkomah AOmoregie GAkinyemi ZAnyanti JLadipo OAdebayo SDove Medical PressarticleImmunologic diseases. AllergyRC581-607ENHIV/AIDS: Research and Palliative Care, Vol 2011, Iss default, Pp 93-100 (2011)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Immunologic diseases. Allergy RC581-607
spellingShingle	Immunologic diseases. Allergy RC581-607 Ankomah A Omoregie G Akinyemi Z Anyanti J Ladipo O Adebayo S HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
description	Augustine Ankomah1, Godpower Omoregie1, Zacch Akinyemi2, Jennifer Anyanti1, Olaronke Ladipo1, Samson Adebayo11Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria; 2Population Services International, Kigali, RwandaBackground: Over one-third of sex workers in Nigeria are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), yet there is a lack of understanding of sex workers&rsquo; own perception of sexual risk-taking. Applying the theory of cognitive dissonance, this paper examined the personal HIV risk perception of brothel-based sex workers.Methods: The study is based on 24 focus group discussions held among brothel-based sex workers in four geographically and culturally dispersed cities in Nigeria.Results: It was found that sex workers underestimated their risk of infection and rationalized, defended, or justified their behaviors, a typical psychological response to worry, threat, and anxiety arising from the apparent discrepancies between beliefs and behaviors. To reduce dissonance, many sex workers had a strong belief in fatalism, predestination, and faith-based invulnerability to HIV infection. Many believed that one will not die of acquired immune deficiency syndrome if it is not ordained by God. The sex workers also had a high level of HIV-related stigma.Conclusion: From these findings, most sex workers considered risk reduction and in particular condom use as far beyond their control or even unnecessary, as a result of their strong beliefs in fatalism and predestination. Therefore, one critical area of intervention is the need to assist sex workers to develop accurate means of assessing their personal vulnerability and self-appraisal of HIV-related risk.Keywords: female sex workers, cognitive dissonance, risk perception, risky behavior, focus group discussions, Nigeria
format	article
author	Ankomah A Omoregie G Akinyemi Z Anyanti J Ladipo O Adebayo S
author_facet	Ankomah A Omoregie G Akinyemi Z Anyanti J Ladipo O Adebayo S
author_sort	Ankomah A
title	HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
title_short	HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
title_full	HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
title_fullStr	HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed	HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria
title_sort	hiv-related risk perception among female sex workers in nigeria
publisher	Dove Medical Press
publishDate	2011
url	https://doaj.org/article/cc66efe0c8f84d829c048633e634eec6
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HIV-related risk perception among female sex workers in Nigeria

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