Agricultural trainees' and extension personnel's attitudes toward HIV/AIDS: Implications for extension service delivery in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the public stereotypes of HIV-positive persons and the relationship with knowledge about the disease. 164 extension personnel and a convenience sample of 250 undergraduate students from an Agricultural Development Programme and an Agricultural University respectively, were interviewed for the study. Both institutions were located in Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria. The results of the study showed that the respondents have adequate knowledge of the disease and that extension personnel have a higher knowledge of the disease than the students. Attitudes towards the disease are multidimensional, and are: social acceptance, and sympathy for the victims, government support for the victims, improved government spending on research to develop a cure for the disease, victimization (i.e. blaming the victims for having the disease), and social prejudice against sufferers. Because there is a strong attitude-behavior linkage, the victimization and social prejudice dimensions have negative implications for extension delivery efforts in the country. Therefore, there is need for the intensification of the enlightenment campaign by the government and civil society for the changing of public stereotypes towards those people perceived to be living with the disease. Higher institutions in the country need to have a HIV/AIDS policy and educational brief for the students as part of the national effort at combating the spread of the disease.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• extension personnel
• undergraduates
• attitudes
• extension delivery