GENDER INEQUALITY, HIV/AIDS AND GENDER POLICIES IN JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
GENDER INEQUALITY, HIV/AIDS AND GENDER POLICIES IN JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2012-12
Authors
APINE, NJI MARGARET
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Abstract
Thirty years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, women still remain the largest at-risk
group in Nigeria. Whereas the government has acknowledged the gender dimensions
of HIV/AIDS and has developed and implemented gender-sensitive HIV/AIDS
programmes, interventions, policies, and strategies, significant challenges remains.
This study investigates practices that reinforce gender inequality in Jos North and
their implications for policy. The approach in this study is not entirely new. We rely
on gender and power theory to understand the phenomenon under investigation. A
cross-sectional survey of three categories of sexually active respondents was
conducted between September 2010 and February 2011. This was to ascertain the
factors that limit their ability to protect themselves against HIV and their implications
to policy. These categories of respondents include: 900 people from 30 different
clusters, 200 PLWHIV in an NGO, 100 programme managers from NGOs and the
State’s AIDS Control Agency (PLACA). The instrument for data collection was the
questionnaire and interview while descriptive results were obtained using the SPSS
software. Of the 900 respondents in clusters, 60.7% indicated that religion was a
barrier; while among the 200 PLWHIV, 28.7% stated that religion was a barrier
against the effective utilization of available prevention methods. Furthermore, Of the
100 programme managers in the entire Local Government Area, 96% indicated that
gender inequality impacts negatively on prevention programmes. While 60% of the 10
interviewees indicated that religious manipulation was at the root of female
subjugation, the remaining 40% reported that policy makers were not committed to
empowering women. The findings of the study suggest that religious manipulation is
the major issue which reinforces gender inequality in the LGA, as religious leaders
seems to manipulate the tenets of Islam and Christianity to enhance men’s inherent
desire to subjugate women; those who wield power in the private sphere use it to
further their interest in the public sphere. This might explain why anti-stigma bill has
been passed into law, while legislations that empower women are still pending in
Plateau State. In order to adequately address this challenge, the AIDS Control Agency
has to get the active involvement of faith leaders, since they wield a lot of influence
on religious adherents and on policy in Nigeria
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGEREIA.
DECEMBER, 2012
Keywords
GENDER,, INEQUALITY,, HIV/AIDS,, POLICIES,, JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT,, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA