1. Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection in patients attending Directly Observed Treatment Short‐course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Nigeria: A retrospective study.
- Author
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Okeke, Monique, Eze, Peter M., Chukwudebelu, Adaeze E., Nwankwo, Chidiebere J., Eze, Nchekwube K., Okafor, Uchenna U., Abonyi, Isaiah C., Okereke, Eric E., Obasi, Kalu O., Ede, Okorie A., Ejikeugwu, Chika P., Ilo, Cajetan I., and Okafor, Jerome O.
- Subjects
AIDS patients ,HIV ,YOUNG adults ,MARRIED people ,HEALTH facilities ,AIDS-related opportunistic infections - Abstract
Background and Aim(S): This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS coinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short‐course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15−60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra State's health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS. Results: The mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the state during the 5‐year period (2013–2017) was 20.00%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The state's prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013 to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.90%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection during the study period. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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