Comportment of Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers in HIV Spread along Settlements around Kaduna: Kano Road Transport Corridor in Nigeria

Background: Road transport remains the cheapest way to move goods and services across limitless boundaries in Nigeria. The collapse of the rail and water transport system, and the high cost of air transport have given rise to increasing road transport usage. This increases vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers due to long absence from home and constant interaction with the commercial sex workers (CSWs). Objectives: The study was performed to determine the sexual behaviour of HGV drivers while on transit within the inter-state transport corridor of Kaduna State in northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Marraba–Jos along the Kaduna–Kano transport corridor. A structured questionnaire was used to study age, educational status, knowledge and attitude toward HIV/AIDS, and the sexual behavior of HGV drivers. Results: Three hundred and fi fty HGV drivers participated in the study, of whom 273 drivers (78.0%) had excellent knowledge on HIV/AIDS preventive measures and 218 drivers (62.0%) had good attitude toward prevention. Frequency of having sex while on transit varied with 84 respondents (24%) having sex at any available opportunity and 49 (14%) having sex on a daily basis. Three hundred and twenty-two drivers (92.0%) agreed in taking some preventive measure, of which 36.8% made use of condoms. One hundred and sixty-one drivers in the study (46.0%) considered themselves a high-risk group to getting infected and 140 (40.0%) agreed that public discussion on HIV/AIDS will help create the necessary awareness. Conclusion: The knowledge of HIV/AIDS among HGV drivers was found to be high, attitude toward prevention was good, and there was fair appreciation of public health intervention toward combating HIV/AIDS when compared to previous studies done on road transport workers in the country.