TITLE:
Cross-Sectional Study of Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Co-Infections among Patients Attending Directly Observed Treatment Centers in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Amala Smart Enoch, Goodluck Silas, Monsi Tombari Pius, Agbesor Innocent Nwozuke
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Co-Infection, Dots Centers, Bayelsa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
12,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
infects about one quarter of the global population and is transmitted via
aerosols by coughing, sneezing, etc. Some socio-behavioral factors may
predispose an individual to the disease. Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional design with random stratified sampling
technique. Sputum samples from suspected TB patients totaling 600 were obtained
from patients attending directly observed treatment (DOTs) centers from
different local government areas in Bayelsa. The sputum samples were examined
for tuberculosis using the Ziehl-Neelsenstaining technique and Gene
Xpert molecular method while HIV/AIDS tests were carried out with EDTA blood
using the Alere HIV12 test kit and others. Results: The Prevalence of TB by Gene Xpert was 294 (49.0%) and by AFB 217 (36.1%),
while TB/HIV co-infection was 94 (32.0%), RRMTB was 34 (11.9%) and HIV 249 (41.5%).
Prevalence by age group showed the 20 - 39 years had the highest prevalence of TB 98 (47.0%), TB/HIV 35 (47.0%),
RRMTB 17 (48.0%) and HIV 90 (57.0%). By gender the male had slightly higher prevalence of TB 109 (52.0%), TB/HIV 51 (54.0%), RRMTB 20
(56.0%) and HIV 126 (51.0%) than the female. Prevalence among smokers and alcoholics and subjects who engaged in both habits had high prevalence TB 109 (37.0%),
TB/HIV 14 (40.0%), RRMTB 14 (40.0%) and HIV 72 (29.0%). For educational status
those with tertiary and secondary education had similar high prevalence and for
occupation, the self-employed and civil servants had similar elevated prevalence. The
prevalence by local government area showed that Yenegoa had the highest with TB
235 (80.0%), TB/HIV 72 (76.6%), RRMTB 24 (68.5%) and HIV 202 (81.2%). Conclusion: An increase in the development of resistance by M. tuberculosis also
contributes to the persistence of the disease as well as some socio-economic
factors.