Prevalence and Correlates of TB and HIV Co-infection Among People Living with HIV/AIDs at the DLHM Hospital, Calabar

Samson Olusegun Aturaka

doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20170504.13

Abstract

TB is the most common opportunity infection and cause of death among people living with HIV. With dwindling prevalence figures from several national studies and dwindling funding, CD4 monitoring makes management easy, accessible and affordable. Objectives to determine prevalence and correlates of TB and HIV Co-infection among People Living with HIV/AIDs at the DLHM Hospital, Calabar. The study is retrospective descriptive study of 274 TB-HIV co-infected clients form October, 2009 to June, 2011 was carried out by examining their hospital records. Research instruments were a designed checklist used to collect socio demographic data, information on HIV diagnosis and ARV use, CD4 count and TB-HIV co-infection. Data was analyzed using the excel software. The result shows age group 21-30 years and 31-40 years constitute the largest (39.0% and 31.0%) of co-infected clients respectively. The percentage of infected females was 160/274 = 58.6% and the rest were male. Only 28 (10.2%) had their CD4 count above 350 cells counts/ul. ConclusiCo-infections of TB and HIV are common. CD4 count is a reliable tool in monitoring progression. Every HIV positive client should be considered having the potential of contracting TB, and this underscores the need for proper screening and monitoring.

Highlights

Since the emergence of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV have been closely linked together
The hospital is being supported by an NGO, with monitoring and supervisory roles being provided by the FMoH. This is a retrospective descriptive study of TB-HIV coinfection among HIV positive clients enrolled into care at the DLMIH hospital
Age group 21-30 years and 31-40 years constitute the largest (39.0% and 31.0%) of coinfected clients respectively (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Since the emergence of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV have been closely linked together. TB is the most common opportunity infection and cause of death among people living with HIV. [1] With a decrease in cell- mediated immunity, HIV changes the pathogenesis of TB, thereby greatly increasing the risk of disease from TB in HIV- co-infected persons and progressing to more serious complications and forms of TB. In 2006, a total of 1.7 million people died of TB including 231,000 people with HIV. [5] Factors contributing to the resurgence of tuberculosis in developing countries include co-infection with HIV; emergence of multiple resistant tuberculosis, inadequate treatment, poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding, armed conflict and increasing numbers of displaced persons. In co-infected individuals the risk of death is twice that of HIV infected individuals without TB, even when CD4 cell count and antiretroviral therapy are taken into account. In co-infected individuals the risk of death is twice that of HIV infected individuals without TB, even when CD4 cell count and antiretroviral therapy are taken into account. [8]

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Results

Conclusion