Abstract:
The morbidity and mortality from Tuberculosis (TB) are still predominant among HIV
infected patients in Ethiopia. Thus, institution-based cross-sectional and retrospective
study designs were used to assess the prevalence of TB and associated factors among HIV
sero-positive study participants at Karamara General Hospital, Jigjiga town, from
September to December 2017. A total of 422 HIV-seropositive participants were
systematically selected for cross-sectional study whereas data of all HIV-seropositive
cases registered at the hospital between 2006/7 and 2015/16 were reviewed for
retrospective study. Socio-demographic and related information was collected using pretested
questionnaire. Ziehl-Neelsen staining method was employed to examine the
presence of acid fast bacilli. The overall prevalence of TB in the present study was 6.6%
and infection rate was higher among males (7.9%) and adult age groups (7.2%). TB
infection was significantly associated (P<0.05) with occupation, alcohol abuse, khat
chewing and tobacco consumption, irregular ART care, awareness on TB transmission,
signs and symptoms as well as curable way. HIV positive farmers, drinkers, chewers,
smokers and those with irregular ART care were 4.8, 6.4, 4.1, 14.2 and 3.7 times more
likely to get active tuberculosis than their counter groups. Of 3124 HIV cases recorded in
the past ten years, 845 (27.0%) were TB co-infected while its rate was comparable in
males (28.6%) and females (26.0%). Trends of TB co-infection rate in karamara hospital was rising until 2008/9 but showed a decline thereafter. Its rate rose sharply 316 (72.6%)
in 2008/9, and dropped sharply 52 (15.8%) in 2010/11, after which a quite steady decline
was seen. Of the total pulmonary TB (PTB) cases, majority (46.9%) were smearing
positive pulmonary TB. Higher number of smear negative (191) and extra pulmonary TB
(39) cases were recorded in the year 2008/09 while maximum smear positive pulmonary
TB cases (89) were recorded in the year 2009/10. Overall, TB infection rate is modest
among persons living with HIV. However, a recent trend revealed slight rise of co-infected
cases. Thus, improved TB/HIV collaboration activity and scale up of health care services
is underscored to reduce risk of TB
