Human Immunodeficiency Virus co-infection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zamboanga City Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: The co-existence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is known to be a deadly syndemic, that is, it acts synergistically to magnify the burden of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of HIV co-infection in cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients in ZCMC.

METHODS: This study is an analytical, cross sectional design to identity prevalence of HIV con-infection in cases of PTB patients in ZCMC. Respondents are given questionnaires and are analyzed using percentage, frequency distribution and Fisher-Exact Text in order to determine the clinical profile and risk factors for HIV.

RESULTS: A total of 153 respondents have agreed to participate in this study. Four (4) are reactive to HIV screening with a nine months prevalence rate of 2.61% (95%CI = 0.49% - 5.72%). All are males belonging to ages 31-40 yrs old, with multiple sexual partners, and positive sexual contact with males. Of the demographic variables, age 31-40 years (p=0.032), being employed (p=0.036) and higher educational background (p=0.004) are noted to be predictive risk for HIV. For the clinical profile, only the recent travel is shown is to be predictive of HIV (p=0.022). Among classical TB symptoms, generalized weakness, weight loss and back pain are noted to be predictive risk. Those with Sputum AFB positive results are noted to a greater predisposition of having HIV.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that the prevalence of HIV co-infection among the PTB patients in ZCMC is 2.61% (95%CI=0.49 - 5.72%). The established risk factors reported by the DOH-NEC 2014 are the same with the findings in this study, that is those having high-risk behaviors. Moreover, predictive risks for HIV are young age group, higher literacy level, being employed, and recent travel to regions with high rate of HIV. Most importantly, having a positive Sputum AFB, is considered risk.