Barriers to HIV/AIDS Treatment in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: With the exception of South Africa and India, the number people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLWHA) in Nigeria exceeds that of any other country in the World. Access to HIV/AIDS treatment services remains a challenge as only 6% of PLWHAs have accessed the services. This stands in the way of achieving the National HIV/AIDS policy as well as the global goal of placing 15 million PLWHAs on treatment and care by the end of the year 2015. In order to achieve these goals, there is need to know the barriers (through systematic literature review) that prevent access to HIV/AIDS treatment especially in the developing world of sub-Saharan Africa (of which Nigeria is among) that houses 70% of global HIV/AIDS burden. When these barriers are known, strategies would then be adopted to remove them so as to improve the treatment coverage. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: Twenty studies looking at issues surrounding barriers preventing access to HIV/AIDS treatment and support services in Nigeria and other developing countries were reviewed in order to identify key issues or barriers militating against the smooth delivery of HIV/AIDS treatment services and recommend strategies for removing them in order to achieve the much desired universal access to HIV treatment. Results: Suggest that the barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment in the developing world are grouped into three categories namely health systems related, patients related and community related. Conclusion: Sequel to the literature review findings, stakeholders must come together and agree on a sustainable and community driven approach to HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria.