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SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN ANTENATAL PATIENTS IN FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI
Abstract
There has been a resurgence of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in recent years globally.
This resurgence is overwhelming the capacity of the tuberculosis unit of the Federal
Medical Centre Owerri, Imo State. This has been attributed to the emergence of the
global epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This is despite the
numerous efforts aimed at reducing the scourge by the National tuberculosis control
unit in conjunction with donor agencies. This study was undertaken to determine the
prevalence of HIV among tuberculosis patients in the Federal Medical Centre
Owerri, Imo State and the extent and effect of HIV on the epidemiology of TB.
This was cross-sectional study of patients seen at the TB unit of our hospital. A total
of 160 subjects with tuberculosis confirmed by a Ziehl-Nielsen test were
consecutively recruited until the required sample size was obtained between July
and December 2005. They comprise 86 males and 74 females aged 15-64 years.
They were screened for HIV 1 and 2 antibodies using the World Health Organization
approved Immunocomb HIV 1 and 2 test kit. All initially reactive samples were
confirmed using the HIV 1 and 2 CombiFirm ELISA test.
The seroprevalence of HIV antibodies in TB patients was 30.6%. The age group 20
29 and 30-39 years were mostly affected (p=0.043). A higher proportion of females
(32.4%) with tuberculosis were found to be infected with TB compared to the males
(25%). There was a higher incidence of mid and lower lobe infiltrates in the X-rays of
the HIV positive patients (79%) compared with the HIV negative patients (60%).
Mandatory HIV screening for TB patients and equally, screening TB patients for HIV
is advocated. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for a more aggressive health
education targeted at the youths on preventive measures aimed at arresting the
spread of HIV and TB.
