HIV/AIDS: Research and Palliative Care (Mar 2021)

Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection and Associated Factors at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Four-Year Retrospective Study

  • Alemu A,
  • Wubie Aycheh M,
  • Dilnessa T

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 293 – 299

Abstract

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Adugnaw Alemu,1 Moges Wubie Aycheh,2 Tebelay Dilnessa3 1School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tebelay DilnessaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, PO Box 269, Debre Markos, EthiopiaTel +251 912198715Email [email protected]: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are the principal global causes of death among patients with communicable diseases. Because of shared immune defense mechanisms, they are the primary cause of morbidity worldwide. However, little information was found regarding the magnitude of TB/HIV co-infection in the study area, in Northwest Ethiopia.Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of TB and HIV co-infection and associated factors among TB patients.Methods: All TB patients at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital were included from September 11, 2012 to September 10, 2016. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations between independent and outcome variables.Results: A total of 180 TB patients were enrolled. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) accounted for 97/180 (53.9%), followed by extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in 83/180 (46.1%). There were 164/180 (91.1%) new TB cases and 16/180 (8.9%) treatment failures, but no relapsing or defaulting cases were observed. Forty percent (72/180) of patients were co-infected with TB and HIV. The likelihoods of having TB/HIV co-infection were 3.2 and 2.1 times higher in PTB smear-positive and PTB smear-negative patients (AOR=3.2, 95% CI 1.4– 8.1, p=0.006; and AOR=2.1, 95% CI 1.0– 4.3, respectively, p=0.05), in comparison to EPTB. The rate of TB/HIV co-infection was 28/66 (42.4%) in 2013, 18/38 (47.4%) in 2014, 13/32 (40.6%) in 2015, and 13/44 (29.5%) in 2016.Conclusion: TB/HIV co-infection showed a decreasing trend in the past 2 years in the study area. TB/HIV co-infection is one of the most serious community health concerns in the study area. Therefore, TB/HIV collaborative activities should be implemented to reduce co-infection and its impact on the community.Keywords: TB/HIV co-infection, tuberculosis, HIV, multidrug resistant TB

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