Public health officials have advocated the involvement of men as a strategy for addressing the dismal performance of family planning (FP) programmes. This study was therefore designed to explore the challenges and determine way forward to male involvement in FP in Olorunda Local Government Area, Osogbo, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study involved the use of a four-stage sampling technique to select 500 married men and interviewed them using semistructured questionnaire. In addition, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. Mean age of respondents was 28.5 ± 10.3 years. Some (37.9%) of the respondents’ spouse had ever used FP and out of which 19.0% were currently using FP. Only 4.8% of the respondents had ever been involved in FP. Identified barriers to male involvement included the perception that FP is woman’s activity and was not their custom to participate in FP programme. More than half of the FGD discussants were of the view that men should provide their wives with transport fare and other resources they may need for FP. The majority of the respondents had never been involved in family planning with their wives. Community sensitization programmes aimed at improving male involvement in FP should be provided by government and nongovernmental agencies.

Background: Considering HIV pandemic among uniform service personnel (UPS), a lot of HIV intervention programmes designed to mitigate the spread have not been very successful thus the introduction of the HIV minimum prevention package intervention (MPPI). This paper therefore presents the achievements of HIV prevention programme among UPS in Kogi State, Nigeria including its implications for programming. Methods: This project was implemented among uniform service personnel who are in army, police, custom and prison in Kogi State. A total of 2676 was an estimated sample size for this intervention and MPPI was used for implementation of project activities. Data were entered on DHIS2 platform and later exported and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Out of the total number of 67 community dialogues/advocacies carried out during the project period, 56.7% were done in 2014 and a total of 187 participants participated with a participating rate of 62.0% and 38.0% in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The total number of condoms distributed during the entire project was 7,387 and 3038 peers were registered during the project. A total of 82.6% and 71.6% were reached with HIV counselling and testing and MPPI respectively while the prevalence of HIV was 5.3%. Conclusions: This intervention successfully scaled-up demand creation for condoms and HIV counselling and testing among uniform service personnel. More engagement at all levels to engender political commitment and ownership of the HIV response with a view of ensuring sustainability through increased funding should therefore be encouraged.

Female sex workers (FSWs) who inject drugs have higher risks of HIV infection due to injection drug use and the array of sexual practices employed. This study, therefore, is designed to determine sexual practices of FSWs who inject drug in Osogbo, Nigeria. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive mixed-methods design. Twenty-seven FSWs who inject drug were selected from 11 brothels by snowball sampling and interviewed with a semistructured questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. The mean age of respondents was 26.2 ± 7.5. Many of the respondents were aware of the magnitude of HIV and some were sex workers first before turning to be drug users. Some of the respondents had ever tested for HIV and few had ever been treated for STI more than once. Some respondents were willing to have male clients who do not wear a condom in exchange for accepting more money in return. Many of the respondents reported use of condom, regular talking of herbs, and good personal hygiene as ways of protecting themselves from HIV. Respondents have relatively high numbers of sexual partners. Involving sex workers directly in HIV prevention campaigns will encourage them to look after their health and to access services that could help them.

Background: Kogi State recognizes the necessity of meeting the needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) with compassionate care as a result broad range vulnerabilities faced by these children and their families. This paper therefore presents achievements and implications of care and support programme among OVC in Kogi State, Nigeria Methods: Five civil society organizations were engaged by Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS under HIV/AIDS fund (HAF) II project to provide care and support services for OVC. A total of 3700 OVC were reached with this intervention and selection of participants was done using purposive sampling. Data collected using data collection and reporting tools were entered on DHIS2 platform and later exported into and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Out of the total of 3700 OVC enrolled in this project, 114 (3.1%) were lost to follow up, 138 (3.7%) voluntary withdrawn from the project and 295 (8.0%) died. The number of household heads provided with economic support was 760. Among these, 60.9% were supported in 2015. A total of 192 children were also provided with economy strengthening services, 3367 were provided with educational access. In 2015 alone, a total of 1920 representing 51.9% of the total population were provided with nutritional support, 808 children were provided with protection services while 116 were provided shelter. Conclusion: Programming for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS will contribute to the achievement of an AIDS-free generation by responding to the social (including economic) and emotional consequences of the disease on children, their families, and communities that support them. Scale-up of this intervention is therefore recommended.

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