Abstract
The problem of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection becomes vital when it is seen in the context of under developed countries like Pakistan. Pakistan ranks 5th high burden countries for drug-susceptible and 6th among drug-resistant TB patients [1]. Objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of TB-HIV Co-infection at the designated Sentinel Sites across Pakistan. A cross-sectional study is based on retrospective record review of routinely maintained TB program data at all 17 designated sentinel sites of TB Control Program from 2013-15. Among the screened TB patients 145 (0.66%) were found HIV reactive. The prevalence of HIV was higher (1.02%) in extra-pulmonary and male TB patients (1.23 %) as compared to pulmonary (0.55%) and female patients (0.09%). Scale up TB surveillance activities, integrating TB-HIV care services, active case finding among key affected populations will have a positive impact on TB-HIV co-infection and disease control.
Highlights
Scale up TB surveillance activities, integrating TB-Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) care services, active case finding among key affected populations will have a positive impact on TB-HIV co-infection and disease control
In Pakistan; HIV/AIDS epidemic is estimated to be less than 0.1% among general population and there is a shifting trend among people living with Human Immune deficiency (PLHIV) from “Low prevalence, high-risk key population” to a more concentrated epidemic [2]
In 2015; about 3,31,809 TB cases were notified by National TB Control program in Pakistan, and among them, 12,162 (3.6%) were registered as TB patients which were screened for HIV at the designated sentinel sites in Pakistan [1]
Summary
In Pakistan; HIV/AIDS epidemic is estimated to be less than 0.1% among general population and there is a shifting trend among people living with Human Immune deficiency (PLHIV) from “Low prevalence, high-risk key population” to a more concentrated epidemic [2]. World Health Organization End TB Strategy recommends all registered TB patients should be screened for HIV in the country [8]. This intervention is limited only to designated 17 sentinel sites across the country. The concentrated epidemic of HIV among the key populations is a great challenge for the TB and AIDS Control Programs in Pakistan [2].
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