HIV Knowledge and Willingness to Test for the Infection among Commercial Bus Drivers in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: HIV/AIDS has persisted as a serious public health problem and there is an urgent need to drastically reduce the health burden of this disease. This study was carried out among inter-city commercial bus drivers, to determine their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and their willingness to undergo HIV testing.Methodology: The study was cross-sectional in design. It was carried out among consenting commercial bus drivers operating in two inter-city motor parks, in two urban Local Government Areas in Lagos State, Nigeria. Data was collected with a pretested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire.Results: A total number of 407 drivers were surveyed. Almost all, 395 (98.5%) of the all-male participants were aware of HIV/AIDS. The commonest method of transmission mentioned was unprotected sexual intercourse, 366 (92.4%). Only 153 (38.7%) knew that HIV could be transmitted by the use of unsterilized sharp instruments. Two hundred and forty (60.8%) mentioned condom use as preventive measures. As much as a quarter of them reported that it could be cured. Overall, only 148 (36.4%) of the drivers had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Fifteen percent of them claimed they knew their HIV status by self conviction and 349 (88.4%) were willing to take the HIV test. A significantly higher proportion of better educated drivers knew their HIV status by testing than by self conviction (p=0.005).Conclusions: Adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS was found in a third of this high-risk group. A majority of the drivers are also willing to undergo HIV test. There is need for education aimed at improving their knowledge and provision of free, mobile testing facilities within motor parks