PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS AMONG HIV/AIDS SEROPOSITIVE INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTERS OF IMO AND ABIA STATES, NIGERIA

           Nworuh OB, Osuji SA, Nwoke EA & Ibe S.N.

                       Department of Public Health,

Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

                              ABSTRACT

There is varied information concerning the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) among Human Immune Virus (HIV) -infected patients in the Nigerian Population. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of TB among 246 HIV/AIDS sero-positive individuals aged 20 to 60 years who are receiving care in the Federal Medical Centers of Imo and Abia States. The study is a Cross-Sectional design. The participants were 118 males (48%) and 128 females (52%). Information obtained from the hospital records showed the HIV/AIDS status of the individuals. Questionnaires were used with the informed consent of subjects to obtain responses from the subjects. Six research questions guided the study. Data from questionnaires were collated and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Of the 246 HIV/AIDS seropositive patients, 59 (24%) were positive for HIV/AIDS and TB co-infection. The prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection was higher in males 45 (18.3%) compared to females 14 (5.7%) (X² = 24.912, p = 0.00), and among secondary school level of educated subjects 20 (8.1%) than any other level of education (X² = 25. 785,P = 0.000).The Co-infection values among participants vary among the various age groups, but they are not significant (31-40 years (8.13%), 51-60 (5.7%), 41- 50 (4.5%), (X² = 14.267, P = 0.006). Age, Gender and Level of education were significant (P< 0.001). Marital status and occupation did not show any significant value on the prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection (X² = 8.857, p = 0186 and X² = 5.959, P = 0.114). Generally, this study showed a high prevalence of TB among HIV/AIDS seropositive individuals. Adequate effort should therefore be made to reduce TB among people living with HIV through TB preventive therapy and by universal access to antiretroviral therapy. Knowledge is said to translate to power; health education should be given particularly to HIV infected persons with emphasis on how to stay safe from TB infection. Screening for TB the same time the HIV screening is carried out, will help to identify early infection of TB as well as help for early treatment. Since age, gender and education are significant in the co-infection prevalence of HIV and TB; planned intervention programmes could be focused on persons within this group.