Gender Differences in Health Seeking Behaviours among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Benin City, Edo State - Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmhc.v1i1.6764Keywords:
Benin City, Gender Differences, Health-Seeking Behaviour, HIV/AIDS, Nigeria, People Living with HIVAbstract
Gender differences remain a critical determinant of how people living with HIV/AIDS engage with healthcare services, with direct implications for treatment access, continuity of care, and health outcomes. This study examined gender differences in health-seeking behaviours among people living with HIV/AIDS in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, with the objective of assessing whether males and females differ significantly in their patterns of healthcare utilisation. The study was anchored on the Health Belief Model, which explains health-seeking behaviour in terms of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers to action. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study population comprised 10,351 HIV/AIDS patients receiving care at selected public, private, and faith-based hospitals in Benin City. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula and selected through a multi-stage sampling technique, combining purposive and simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews with ART doctors, nurses, and case managers, while analysis involved descriptive statistics and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed a statistically significant gender difference in health-seeking behaviour, with females demonstrating more consistent clinic attendance and treatment engagement, while males were more likely to delay care due to stigma, work demands, and norms around masculinity. The study concludes that gender significantly shapes access to and utilisation of HIV services in Benin City. It recommends the adoption of gender-responsive HIV programmes, including male-focused outreach strategies, flexible clinic schedules, and strengthened provider training on gender sensitivity to improve equitable and sustained engagement in HIV care.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ezekiel Olalekan Iyanda, Venatus V. Kakwagh, Thomas Imoudu Gomment, Edime Yunusa, Julius Olugbenga Owoyemi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
