CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The family is one of the institutions that exist in a constant state of mutual interaction. It is the smallest social unit, yet the most fundamental Institution in any society. It is the basic social institution from which other institutions have grown.

According to Amusan, Asekun-Olarinmoye, Bamidele, Egbewale, Odu and Olowu (2018) "Family is the basic unit of society. It is a group of people of various ages usually related by birth, marriage or adoption". She went further to say that member of a family feel that they have a special relationship with each other based on blood, affection, duty, shared experience and common interests. This special relationship is a knot that holds a family together making it the most suitable human society. The family is the institution through which socially approved coupling between man and woman takes place. It is the only institution in most, if not every society, recognized as qualified to carry out the roles of child bearing, and rearing as well as loving and caring for its members.

Action Health (2018) also defined the family as the arena in which virtually the entire range of human experiences can take place. These include love, tenderness, honesty, communal sharing, joy, happiness, poverty, deceit, jealousy, envy, violence, warfare, guidance and acceptance. Avert International HIV/AIDS charity (2017) defined family as a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. The family, includes adult of both sexes, two of whom at least maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more owned or adopted children of the sexually cohabiting adults. The African perspective of the family is slightly different from the western perspective.

In the African context, and by extension, the Nigerian context, a family consists of the husband, wife, children and the extended families of the couple.

Cooke (2015) defined the family as a bio-social group, a network of persons intimately held together by a bond of social and kinship relationship or blood relationships.

Cooke (2015) goes on to say that in the Nigerian context, at least because of the phenomenon of extended family system, the family is made up of the married couple, their offsprings and immediate kit and kin, brothers and sisters of the bridegroom and his parents, relatives-in-laws, and any other dependant, so that the concept of nuclear families is a product of colonial experience in most parts of Africa. Following from the above, family in the context of this study can be defined as a group of people closely related by blood, sharing common residence and interests consisting at least of two adults of both sexes who maintain socially approved sexual relationship and or one or more children of the sexually cohabiting adults.

According to 2015 UNAIDS estimates, the vast majority of countries where HIV prevalence among adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years exceeds 1% are in sub-Saharan Africa (with the exception of the Bahamas). Outside of sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence in adolescent girls and young women exceeds 1% mostly among subpopulations (such as sex workers and communities with high drug use). Achieving reductions in new HIV infections among young key populations is essential to achieving the global target of fewer than 100 000 new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years. Even within sub-Saharan Africa, there are large differences in epidemics among young women. For instance, HIV prevalence among young women aged 15 to 24 ranges from below 0.1 % in Senegal to 16.7% in Swaziland (2015).

In Nigeria, like other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS continues to ravage families and communities. On a global level, 14,000 people become infected with HIV each day. High HIV prevalence among young women aged 15 to 24 years can serve as a proxy for HIV incidence in the absence of other data. Another option is to use modelled estimates of HIV incidence among young women, as they show variation between and within countries by age and location.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In response to the epidemic, various measures have been taken at the local, national and international levels to prevent the transmission. Despite such programmes for prevention, efforts to date are not sufficiently impactful to adequately control HIV/AIDS. Various drugs have been invented, new ones are being discovered and administered, yet people are still being infected and are still subjected to various excruciating experiences. Prevention remains the best way of capturing the epidemic. Therefore, in recognition of existing lacunae in previous programmes and attempts made to prevent the epidemic, the study examines family role in HIV/AIDS prevention using Makurdi L.G.A Benue state as the case study.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to determine the role of family in prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state. The objectives of the study are:

1. To determine the consequences of HIV/AIDS among youths in families in Makurdi L.G.A, Benue state
2. To determine the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A, Benue state
3. To investigate the factors affecting the role of family in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state
4. To recommend ways for effective prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions are:

1. What are the consequences of HIV/AIDS among youths in families in Makurdi L.G.A, Benue state?
2. What is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A, Benue state?
3. What are the factors affecting the role of family in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state?
4. What are the ways for effective prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A?

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

H0: the role of family in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state is not effective

H1: the role of family in the prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state is effective

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1.     The outcome of this research will create awareness to both the general public and youths in Makurdi L.G.A, Benue state on the role of family in prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths.

2.     This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the role of family in prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths in Makurdi L.G.A Benue state, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study covers on the role of family in prevention of HIV/AIDS among youths with focus on Makurdi L.G.A Benue state

1.8 LIMIATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

HIV: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled.

AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight infection and disease.

YOUTHS: the period between childhood and adult age

FAMILY: a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit