Sources of Information and Perceived Practices that Predispose Extension Professionals and Farmers to HIV/AIDS in SouthwesternNigeria

The study investigated the sources of information and perceived practices that predispose extensionprofessionals and farmers to HIV/AIDS infection in Southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected from 194 respondents comprising 59 Agricultural DevelopmentProgramme (ADP) staffand135 farmers through the use ofquestionnaire andstructuredinterview schedule using a multi stage random sampling technique. The data collected were analysed using percentages and mean scores. The findings revealed that a greater proportion (49.1%; 46.7%) of the extension professionals and farmers got their firstinformation onHIV/AIDSmore than 5years ago, mostly through the radio, subsequently; they received information on HIV/AIDS through the mass media (radio and television) and hospital/health centres. Also radio, television, hospital and friends/peer groups were the majorperceived useful information sources on HIV/AIDS education. The findings also showedthat extensionprofessionals andfarmerspreferred getting HIV/AIDS information through radio, television, newspapers, friends / peergroups and hospital/health centres. The results of the study also showed that prostitutions, bloodcovenants, circumcisions, tribalmarking, polygamy, wrongpractices of treating wound sustained during farming operations, sharing of sharp objects in manicuring, using same toothbrush in the family, barbing with the same clippers/blade and going to quack doctors/nurses formediGal treatment were perceivedpractices that predispose extension professionals and farmers to HIV/AIDS infection. The study therefore recommended that the various preferred sources of information be used in disseminating HIV/AIDS preventive measures as well as the health effects and vulnerability of extension professionals and farmerspracticingpolygamy, tribalmarking andcircumcision