People with disabilities in Cabo Verde, an unresolved issue: HIV prevalence, knowledge, attitudes and practices

ABSTRACT

This article provides evidence about profile of persons with disabilities in Cabo Verde, their Knowledge, attitudes and practice and their bio-behavioural vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The Cape verdian population was estimated to be 537,661 inhabitants in 2020, with an HIV prevalence of about 0.6% in the general population. Data were collected from 5 islands and 8 municipalities with a proportion of people with disabilities greater than or equal to 5%. A total of 682 persons participated in the study, and 653 People with Disabilities (PwDs) were tested for HIV. The HIV prevalence rate was 2.3% (3.5% in men; 1.7% in women), and the most prevalent type of virus is HIV1. Over 90% PwDs have access to information about HIV. Most of PwDs (85.8%) have had sex and known protection methods against HIV, although there are some misconceptions and beliefs. About 80.0% never participated in HIV/AIDS prevention activities, and 96.3% said that their participation gave them a better understanding about HIV and AIDS. About 79% were unaware of the existence of HIV care, support and prevention facilities, and 36.7% do not know of any place for HIV screening. This first study in Cabo Verde highlights the reality about PwDs social and environmental situation.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• disability
• vulnerability
• behaviour
• Cabo Verde

Acknowledgements

The authors express the utmost gratitude to the Cape Verdean population, who voluntarily responded to the questionnaire and accepted to participate in the study. We are grateful to the heath delegations in the municipalities and island where the study carried out and to the team who worked in the data collection on the field. We thank the consultants and the international team, who collaborated on the design, collected, analysed and finalisation of the final report in the country.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria [Project Regional VIH-Handicap].