Abstract
The study examined the awareness and perception of female cassava farmers on HIV/AIDS infection in Uyo Agricultural Zone, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The result showed that 91.7% of farmers were aware of the existence of HIV, and 96.7% were aware that HIV has no cure. Findings also showed that HIV was mostly transmitted through sexual intercourse (x=4.6), blood transfusion (x =3.44), prenatal infection (x=2.76), sharing and use of unsterilized sharp objects (x=2.62), poverty (X=2.68). Also, the most effective sources of HIV/AIDS information dissemination were radio/television (X =3.42), health care providers (X =3.25), NGOs (X =3.13), Friends and relatives (X =3.05) SACA (X =2.98) and social media (X =2.88). Perception-wise, the result showed that the majority (95.8%) of farmers perceived HIV/AIDS as leading to the untimely death of farmers, 90 % perceived it as a predisposing factor to other vulnerable diseases/infections, 80.3 perceived it as being capable of leading to emotional trauma among women farmers while 75, 51.7 and 69.2 per cent said it can result in immune susceptibility, reduction in family income due to high cost of treatment and discrimination against infected persons, respectively. Findings also showed that about 90% of farmers did not know their HIV status, Also, the major preventive measures to the spread of HIV were: using condoms during sexual intercourse, (95%) proper adherence to anti-viral drugs by patients (91.6%) use of properly screened blood during transfusion of blood (83.3%), abstinence from having unprotected sex 81.6%, avoiding casual sex (66.7% ), using properly sterilized sharp piercing objects like razor (61.7%t ), use of new syringes and needles for injection (57.5%), the faithfulness of couple to each other (51.7%,), use of preventive drugs (40% ) and praying for divine intervention,(33.3%). The paper recommended adequate sensitization and education of farmers as well as enacting enabling laws to prevent stigmatization of infected persons as a way out.