Justification

The AIDS Indicator and Impact surveys like the one proposed here have been carried out or are currently in progress in several countries, including Zimbabwe and Malawi (2015), Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Uganda, and Tanzania (2016), and Cameroon, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ethiopia (2017).
However, to date, no national-level, population-based studies have included viral load suppression (VLS), pediatric HIV prevalence, or ART coverage in Nigeria. The NAIIS survey and its biomarkers will permit Nigeria to assess the UNAIDS 90/90/90 treatment targets on a national level. NAIIS in Nigeria will therefore address this gap by estimating HIV incidence, VLS among HIV-positive individuals, and pediatric prevalence. Other HIV-related measures, such as CD4 T-cell count distribution, prevalence of detectable antiretroviral (ARVs) and HIV DR will also be assessed to characterize the HIV epidemic in Nigeria and provide greater clarity on the impact of the national HIV program.

In addition, the survey will collect information on uptake of and access to HIV-related services and will estimate the prevalence of selected behaviors typically associated with HIV acquisition and/ or transmission, and on common HIV co-morbidities and other health conditions.