Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling among tuberculosis patients in Kassala, Eastern Sudan

ABSTRACT

Because of the overlapping global incidence of tuberculosis [TB] and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infections, collaborative efforts are required for successful TB and HIV control programs. The current study was conducted at Kassala Hospital in Eastern Sudan and investigated the implementation of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling [PITC] for patients infected with TB. Using a cross-sectional study design, patients who had been recently diagnosed with TB between January and December 2010 were consecutively enrolled. A total of 858 newly infected TB patients were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 152 patients [17.7%] were given counseling, and 109 patients [12.7%] underwent HIV testing. The overall HIV infection rate among those tested was 18.3%. From a multivariate analysis, female sex [OR =17.0, 95% Cl = 8.7-33.1; P< 0.001], education level below secondary education [OR = 2.6, 95% Cl = 1.6-4.1; P< 0.001], rural residency [OR = 1.7, 95% Cl = 1.3-2.9; P = 0.001], and non-governmental employee status [OR=10.4, 95% Cl = 6.7-16.3; P<0.001] were each associated with lower rates of PITC. Thus, in this setting, the frequency of PITC is low among TB-infected patients and is especially low for females, those of low educational status, and non-governmental employees. 2011 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved