Achievements and Implications of HIV Prevention Programme among Short Distance Drivers : A Systematic Evaluation of HAF II Project In Plateau State , Nigeria

HIV prevention interventions have often focused on drivers because of their high-risk behaviour, mobility and ability to spread infections to new geographical areas. Reducing HIV infection among drivers could have a potential beneficial impact on HIV infection at large. This paper therefore presents achievements and implications of HIV prevention activities among short distance drivers (SDDs) in Plateau State, Nigeria. This was an intervention project conducted among taxi and tricycle drivers including motorcycle riders in seven purposive selected local government areas (LGAs) in Plateau State, Nigeria. The estimated sample size for this intervention was 33,960 and this project was carried out between 2013 and 2016 by eleven civil society organizations engaged and funded by Plateau State Agency for the Control of AIDS under the HIV and AIDS fund (HAF) II project. The minimum prevention package intervention (MPPI) was adopted in the implementation of this project and data was collected using data collecting and reporting tools which were entered into DHIS2 platform and later exported into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using same. A total of 34 community dialogues were held during this intervention and a total of 655 influencers participated. A total of 13928 peers were registered by peer educators during this intervention. Among these, 13351 (95.9%) were males and 577 (4.1%) were females. A total of 6185 of the registered peers were reached with HIV education and 15488 persons were counseled, tested and received results during this intervention. Among these, 93 (0.6%) persons were tested positive to HIV. A total of 125123 condoms were required for this intervention while 19762 (15.8%) condoms were distributed. A total of 1354 persons were referred for STI treatment. The low rates of HIV testing and overall low coverage of this intervention underscore the need for stronger interventions. It is recommended that continuous intervention programmes and seminars on HIV prevention practices should be organized by nongovernmental organizations and ministry of health within the motor parks for the drivers, to inform the drivers and equip them with skill to protect them from the infection.