Socioeconomic effects of HIV/AIDS and farmers' involvement in risky behaviour in southern Nigeria.

This article analyses farmers' perceptions on the socioeconomic effects of HIV/AIDS and factors associated with their involvement in risky behaviour in southern part of Nigeria. The data were collected in 2004 from 515 farmers in five randomly selected states in southern Nigeria. The results show that most of the affected farmers spend reduced hours in daily work, as well as having a reduced income and reduced participation in community development due to HIV/AIDS. Logistic regression reveals that age and education significantly reduce the probability of being involved in behaviour conducive to HIV/AIDS infection, which is increased by not believing in the existence of HIV/AIDS, ignorance about HIV/AIDS methods of prevention, lack of warning about HIV/AIDS, reports of HIV/AIDS in the village, the distance to the public health centre and the lack of a health centre. These findings, while unsurprising, emphasise the importance of HIV/AIDS as a socioeconomic issue.