ABSTRACT
Objective: To estimate the Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) prevalence among the participants/People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and to verify the association between WHO clinical staging and other risk factors with PTB. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the PTB prevalence. Probable associated risk factors in PLWHAs with and without PTB were compared. The association between WHO clinical staging and other risk factors with PTB was investigated using bivariate analysis. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019, recruited about 584 participants with presumptive PTB and 20.72% (121) confirmed with PTB. In the bivariate analysis; participants who are on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Stage 4 (WHO clinical staging) were significantly more likely to develop PTB (p=0.000). PTB was significantly higher among male than female (p=0.000), higher among the older (p=0.030). PTB was significantly more frequent among participants with lower cluster differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts (p=0.042). A contact history with a Tuberculosis (TB) patient was an important risk factor (p=0.000). PTB was significantly associated with smoking history (p=0.000). Conclusion: A high PTB prevalence was observed. There was a significantly association between the severity of WHO clinical staging, sex, age, lower CD4 cell count, a contact history with a tuberculosis (TB) patient and smoking history with PTB among PLWHAs.
ABSTRACT
Background: HIV/AIDS being a behavioral disease, appropriate knowledge is important for those who are infected. Objectives: To elicit and compare knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients attending or admitted in Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, (CSTM), Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken among previously diagnosed HIV/AIDS Patients admitted in indoor wards and newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of the School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. Data were gathered by interviewing patients using a predesigned, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Results: More in-patients had heard about AIDS than ICTC patients. Television was the most popular source of information in both groups, followed by health personnel and friends. Correct knowledge about transmission, symptoms, prevention of AIDS, and lifestyles desirable for affected patients was significantly higher among in-patients who had already been counseled, than the newly diagnosed ICTC patients yet to receive. Within each group of patients, the knowledge score was significantly higher among females, Christians, urban residents, patients educated beyond middle school, and non- migrants. In-patients had a significantly higher attitudinal score toward HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Repeated counseling is required to keep up high level of knowledge and positive attitude pertaining to HIV/AIDS to reduce risk behavior, prevent disease transmission, and improve quality of life.