Poverty and Sexual Morbidity among Rural Women in Nigeria in an Era of HIV/AIDS

Tolulope M. Ola, Ekiti State University
Olalekan Adeyemi, Sound Health Development Initiative
Oluwagemiga Oyinlola, Sound Health Development Initiative
Temitope Olorunsebi, Sound Health Development Initiative

Addressing rural women’s sexual health issues is important to the global social agenda because of the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Nigeria. Rural women live in precarious and impoverished conditions which predispose them to sexual morbidities. We explored the magnitude of self-reported sexual morbidity, its impact, perceived causes and cultural definitions, and treatment-seeking behaviours among women in rural Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study interviewed a total of 110 women irrespective of their marital status, using a multistage random sampling technique and a mixed methodology for data collection. Data analysis was done with SPSS software version 17. Majority reported that they had genital itching frequently, for older women, while vaginal discharge and menstrual disorders were reported more for younger women. Financial and educational empowerment of women is recommended to assist in treatment-seeking and sustainability in community health care.