HIV seroprevalence among tuberculous patients in Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Musafiri, J.; Mbayo, P.M.; Bakaswa, G.; Kaswa, M.; Likwela, J.L.
Sante Publique 25(4): 483-490
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0995-3914 PMID: 24404730 Document Number: 579386
HIV testing among TB patients is still low in DRC This study aimed to determine HIV infection prevalence among TB patients with positive microscopy (TPM+) in Kisangani city. In the period of 15 h August to 31th December 2010, a cross-sectional study was conducted including pulmonary tuberculosis patients with positive microscopy (TPM+) from 15 to 49-years-old received in seven tuberculosis screening and treatment centers (STC). The Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to compare proportions and the Wilcoxon test to examine the relationships between quantitative variables with skewed distributions. HIV test has been proposed to 136 TPM+ patients. Among them, 118 (86.76%) agreed to be tested. 24 (20.3%) of them were HIV positive. HIV-positive patients were significantly older (P = 0.02), predominantly female (P < 0.001) unemployed (p = 0.01). There were more cases of TB treatment relapse (p < 0.01) and less knowledge of TB signs (p = 0.01) among HIV-positive patients. The Ministry of Health and its partners should extend to all STC provider-initiated HIV counceling and testing, ensure access to antiretroviral treatment for all HIV-positive TB patients and intensify TB screening in all patients living with HIV