KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PREMARITAL SCREENING FOR HIV/AIDS AMONG RESIDENCE OF RURAL AREAS IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA.

Introduction: One of the biggest health challenges threatening the human race in recent times is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. To know one's HIV status is a part of the human right to health. The disease has continued to be on the front burner for many years now, despite initial denials and cover-ups by some countries. Sub-Saharan Africa with just over 10 percent of the world's population has the greatest burden of this disease. It is estimated that close to two-thirds of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa with South Africa having the highest number.

Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of premarital screening of HIV/AIDS among residents of rural areas of Itas Gadau local government area of Bauchi state, North-eastern Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 379 eligible respondents comprising residents of Itas and Gadau towns of Bauchi State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the participants for the study. Pearson's chi-square test was used in testing for the association between educational status and premarital screening for HIV/AIDS in rural areas. Results: The results show that all (100%) of the respondents have heard of HIV/AIDS and the dominant source of information was from friends (77.6%) followed by healthcare workers (17.4%). In addition, 90% of participants have good knowledge of premarital screening for HIV/AIDS. Majority of the study respondents had undergone premarital screening for HIV/AIDS (64.4%). The result also shows that there is a statistically significant relationship between educational status and the practice of premarital screening for HIV/AIDS in Itas/Gadau, Bauchi State with p-value of 0.001.

Conclusion: The study found that there was a very high level of knowledge, good attitude, and practice for HIV/AIDS among the study respondents. Thus we recommend that the community should maintain the mandatory premarital screening and continue with regular health education on premarital screening for HIV/AIDS.