Search

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the commonest opportunistic infection seen in Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients and TB/HIV co-infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Globally, it is estimated that 1.1 million people have TB/HIV co-infection with sub-Saharan Africa contributing to 80% of cases and 380,000 annually fatalities. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study. Information was abstracted from the patients' register at the TB DOTS treatment centre of the specialist hospital Gombe from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2015. Data was organized into an Excel Microsoft Spreadsheet. Tables were used to present Univariate and Bivariate analyses. The Chi-square test was used to determine associations between dependent and independent variables. Results: A record of 3066 patients that were diagnosed and treated for TB during the study period was considered. Overall, males constituted 1839 (60%) and those aged 25 -34 contributed more than a quarter of the studied population. A total of 811(26.5%) had TB/HIV co-infection, with higher preponderance in the age group 35-44 years{200 (36.2%)} and more females than males were co-infected 397(32.0%). Co-infection rate was higher among the smear-negative cases. This study recorded a cure rate of 42.6%, a mortality rate of 2.9% and a treatment success rate of 78.0%. Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection amongst the study population mostly affecting the adult female group. A low cure rate was recorded with a treatment success rate below the 85% WHO set target. We, therefore, recommend more awareness creation on TB/HIV co-infection, supportive supervision, proper monitoring of patients at treatment centres and adequate contact tracing at the community level., {"references":["Ojiezeh TI, Ogundipe OO, Adefosoye VA. A retrospective study on incidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Human Immunosuppression Virus control among patients attending National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Owo Centre. Pan Afri Med J October, 2015 available at www.panafric-med-jour.com/content/article/ 20/345/full."]}