9TH EUROPEAN AIDS CONFERENCE (EACS) 1st EACS RESISTANCE & PHARMACOLOGY WORKSHOP October 25 - 29, 2003 Warsaw, Poland

Background: Tuberculosis is the most important opportunistic infection in HIV infected patients but its early diagnosis and cure rate is far from real and resistance rate is increasing among co-infected patients in developing countries due to inadequate skill in management.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors of co-infection of HIV and TB in resource limited setting.

Methods: Opened ended structured questionnaires were administered in three TB treatment centers practicing directly observed short course therapy (DOT). Data was by interviews and questionnaires. In this study, WHO case definition of tuberculosis DOT treatment was employed.

Results: Total 520 participated, 360 subjects gave consent of full participation. 45% of the respondents mentioned ignorance for the need of full compliance, 10% cited treatment side effects,15% attributed failure to poor access to health facilities, 15% gave non-availability to antiTB drugs and ARV and where available, were unaffordable due to financial constraints while 20% mentioned societal stigma relating to TB with HIV/AIDS.

Conclusion: Risk factors associated with cause of TB defaulting in poor resource limited setting is multi-factorial, including societal stigma discrimination and denial, poor access of health facilities, poor counseling as well as poor service by health care providers attitudes. These factors need be addressed in order to succeed in TB and HIV/AIDS programmes.

Presenting Author: Microbiologist Asukwo Uwah, Central Public Health Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, LG 5753, Yaba, Nigeria, Phone: 2348023639146

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