Gender variation in self-reported likelihood of HIV infection in comparison with HIV test results in rural and urban Nigeria

This is a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of Nigerians. We investigated the concordance between self-reported likelihood of HIV and actual results of HIV test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether selected respondents' characteristics affect the validity of self-reports.The HIV prevalence in the urban population was 3.8% (3.1% among males and 4.6% among females) and 3.5% in the rural areas (3.4% among males and 3.7% among females). Almost all the respondents who claimed they have high chances of being infected with HIV actually tested negative (91.6% in urban and 97.9% in rural areas). In contrast, only 8.5% in urban areas and 2.1% in rural areas, of those who claimed high chances of been HIV infected were actually HIV positive. About 2.9% and 4.3% from urban and rural areas respectively tested positive although they claimed very low chances of HIV infection. Age, gender, education and residence are factors associated with validity of respondents' self-perceived risk of HIV infection.Self-perceived HIV risk is poorly sensitive and moderately specific in the prediction of HIV status. There are differences in the validity of self-perceived risk of HIV across rural and urban populations.Effective behaviour change programmes are very important in the effort to reverse the global HIV epidemic. Broad-based behaviour change programmes have played a critical role in reversing the HIV prevalence and incidence in nations with generalized epidemics [1]. One of the several challenges that prevention efforts need to confront is that of perception. Self-perceived risk is a core component of four of the most commonly cited theories used in HIV/AIDS prevention.These four theories (Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Stages of Change, and AIDS Risk Reduction Model) provide clues on how behaviour changes occur [2]. The health belief model developed in the 1950s is built on the premise that health behaviour is dri