Investigating Barriers to Information Access Among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Makurdi Benue State

This study investigated the barriers to information access encountered by persons living with HIV/AIDS in Makurdi, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. Persons living with HIV/AIDS have significant information needs related to treatment adherence, nutrition, legal rights, and support services, but these needs are often unmet due to social, physical, and informational barriers. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed, and data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 25 participants purposively selected from HIV/AIDS support groups and treatment centres. Findings revealed that stigma was the most pervasive barrier to information-seeking, leading many participants to avoid public information venues including libraries and health information desks. Other barriers included limited literacy, lack of internet access, and the absence of health information resources in local languages. The study recommended the training of health librarians and public information officers in HIV-sensitive information service delivery, the provision of private information consultation spaces in libraries, and the development of HIV/AIDS information resources in Tiv and other local languages. Keywords: information access, HIV/AIDS, barriers, Makurdi, Benue State.