Impact of HIV/AIDS on Rural Households in Taraba State Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the progress made globally and locally across different parts of the country in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, the problem has remained a great source of concern in Taraba State. This concern is as a result of increasing number of new infections, decline in the funding and weak health care facilities to contain the spread of the disease. Recent studies have shown that HIV/AIDS is no longer a disease of urban residents alone as there has been increasing spread in the rural areas in recent times. The study employs online literature search and analysis of policy documents, technical reports and memos from government ministries and agencies. Findings of the study showed that the funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the State is international donor driven. International donors contributed the bulk of funds. Findings further revealed that coverage of antiretroviral programmes for prevention of mother-to-child transmission is very low resulting in high number of annual newly infected persons. HIV/AIDS counselling and testing and treatment coverage in the State is very low with very high unmet need for antiretroviral treatment resulting in high number of deaths. The State is an agrarian in nature, dominated by subsistence agriculture. Therefore, increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS retards agricultural production, and threatens food security, in several ways especially in loss of labour and other forms of household assets. HIV/AIDS control and treatment is capital intensive and cannot rely on normal budget of the State government. The study, therefore, recommends private sector support and health insurance scheme to assist in managing HIV/AIDS challenges in Taraba State.