Prevalence and the Risk Factors Associated with HIV-TB Co-Infection Among Clinic Attendees in Dots and Art Centres in Ibadan, Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection form a very serious public health menace in Nigeria. Among patients confirmed to have been infected with either of the disease, co-infection with the other is highly prevalent. However, comprehensive studies focusing on the distributions and correlates of TB/HIV co-infections among Patients attending TB clinics in Ibadan are lacking in the literature. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of TB/HIV co-infection among patients suspected to be TB positive at various health facilities offering TB/HIV Collaboration Service (THCS) in Ibadan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 500 TB/ HIV clinic attendees in Ibadan, Nigeria. A simple random sampling method was used to select 8 TB clinics in Ibadan from the list of all clinics offering THCS in Ibadan. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on TB/HIV status, risk factors and knowledge of HIV and TB from all participants who consented to be interviewed. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis at 5% level of significant. Mean age of the patients was 33.98±13.15 years. The overall prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection among the participants was found to be (41.6%). Prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection were highest (11.2% and 14.8%) among participants in age group 20-29 years and 30-39 years respectively. More females (25.2%) than males (16.4%) had been infected with TB/HIV co- infection. While the prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection were respectively 2.0%, 6.6% 18.4% and 14.6% among participants with no formal education, Primary education, Secondary education and Tertiary education, the prevalence was 20.6% and 16.4% among the married and the unmarried respectively. Results of the Chi-square test show that TB/HIV co-infection was found to be associated with History of the use of TB and HIV drugs defaults, Multiple sex partners, Paid sex, Marital status and occupation of participants. Also, Multiple sex partners (OR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.4-15.0), Extra-vaginal intercourse (OR= 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1- 0.8) and Paid sex (OR= 0.1, 95% CI: 0.5-0.7) were found to be associated with TB/HIV co-infection among the participants. The study revealed that a higher prevalence of co-infection was observed among 10-49 years age group. This implies that the productive age group bears the brunt of TB/HIV co-infection. It was also found that participants with multiple sex partner (OR=6.01) those whose partners are residing with them(OR=1.45) and those with formal education(OR=1.59) are more likely to have TB/HIV co-infection while those with History of anti-TB drug default(OR=0.54), History of anti-retroviral drug default(OR=0.49), those who practice Extra-vaginal intercourse(OR=0.346) and paid sex(OR=0.19) are less likely to be TB/HIV co-infected. TB/HIV control programs that educate people on the prevalence and focus on these subgroups are likely to decrease the joint burden of TB and HIV