TITLE:
Prevalence of Human Immune Deficiency among Registered Tuberculosis Patients across Pakistan during 2013-2015—Prevalence of TB-HIV Co-Infection in Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Aamir Safdar, Razia Fatima, Nasir Mahmood Khan, Aashifa Yaqoob, Afshan Khurshid, Mahboob Ul Haq, Ahmad Wali
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculosis, HIV, Co-Infection, Pakistan
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.6 No.1,
March
27,
2018
ABSTRACT: The problem of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection becomes vital when it is seen in the context of under developed countries like Pakistan. Pakistan ranks 5th high burden countries for drug-susceptible and 6th among drug-resistant TB patients [1]. Objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence of TB-HIV Co-infection at the designated Sentinel Sites across Pakistan. A cross-sectional study is based on retrospective record review of routinely maintained TB program data at all 17 designated sentinel sites of TB Control Program from 2013-15. Among the screened TB patients 145 (0.66%) were found HIV reactive. The prevalence of HIV was higher (1.02%) in extra-pulmonary and male TB patients (1.23 %) as compared to pulmonary (0.55%) and female patients (0.09%). Scale up TB surveillance activities, integrating TB-HIV care services, active case finding among key affected populations will have a positive impact on TB-HIV co-infection and disease control.