Evaluation of HIV Prevention Programme among Long Distance Drivers: Achievements and Implications of HIV/AIDS Funded Project in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background:  The Long Distance Drivers (LDD)are known to have multiple sexual partners and to visit commercial sex workers due to the migratory nature of their occupation and being far from their families for a long time. They thus constitute a well-known high risk group of the population in the spread of HIV/AIDS hence; the HIV Minimum Prevention Package Intervention (MPPI) was introduced to reach them. This article presents the achievements and implications of HIV prevention programme among the LDDs in Osun State, Nigeria.        

Methods: This intervention was conducted between 2013 and 2015 by two Civil Society Organizations (CSO) who were engaged by Osun state Agency for the Control of AIDS (OSACA). A total of 543 participants were reached with this programme and Minimum Prevention Package Intervention (MPPI) was used for the implementation of the project activities. Data were documented using various monitoring and evaluation tools and entered in the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) platform. The data were exported into Microsoft Excel and analysed. In addition, Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted among the selected CSOs who benefited from HIV/AIDS Fund (HAF) through HIV Programme Development Project (HPDP) in Osun State, Nigeria.

Results: A total of 22 community dialogues were held with 179 participants. No income generating activity (IGA) was held among the LDDs during this project. In 2015, about 82.1% of the total male condoms were distributed, 91% of the total female condoms were distributed and 71.5% of the participants were counselled, tested and received result for HIV. None of the participants was reached with the MPPI in 2013 and 2014. A total of 222 (76.5%) of the registered peers were reached with all the three stages of MPPI in the year 2015. A total of 897 participants were counselled, tested and receive result while 12 of them tested positive to HIV infection giving the HIV prevalent rate of 1.3%. The KIIs among the CSOs revealed that the programme made immense contributions and its impact was well felt by the LDDs.

Conclusion:The Minimum Prevention Package Intervention (MPPI) is a unique approach to reach the community members and different target populations for HIV prevention programmes. There is a need to scale-up this intervention among the Long Distance Drivers (LDDs) for effective HIV prevention in the State.