No abstract

No abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections have been identified to form a deadly synergy that is posing serious threats to human health and economic development particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Six years into the end TB strategy, it is imperative to assess HIV detection rate among TB patients in order to determine the prevalence as well as establish the temporal trend of the co-morbidity in the Eastern region of Ghana where the magnitude of HIV and TB/HIV co-morbidity have consistently been noted to be high. The study reviewed records of 840 TB patients retrospectively from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018 in Suhum Municipal. Socio-demographic characteristics and clinical data of study participants were extracted from the Municipal TB registers using an excel spread sheet. Data were exported into STATA version 16.0 for analysis with statistical significance set at p-value ≤0.05. Of the 840 TB patients, 793 (94.4%) were screened for HIV, with 18.6% (95% CI: 0.16–0.21) yielding positive results. A sharp increase in the trend of the co-infection was observed from 6 (14.6%) in 2009 to 21 (36.8%) in 2010. The highest (40.4%) co-infection prevalence was recorded in 2011. The study recorded an overall decreasing trend of the co-infection. Case detection rate for HIV among persons living with TB was high. TB/HIV co-infection rate in Suhum Municipal is high and occurs more often among females and persons aged 30 years to 49 years. A fairly stable prevalence trend of TB/HIV co-infection rate was also identified. In conclusion, ongoing integrated TB/HIV activities are showing good results and therefore need to be sustained.

Background: Mantoux test is the most widely used screening test that aid diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) especially in resource poor countries. This study aimed to determine the seven year trend of Mantoux test result at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State Nigeria. Methods: A secondary data analysis was carried out on abstracted data from 2011 to 2017 in the Mantoux result register. Descriptive statistics was computed for all categorical variables. Chi-square of trend was used to assess significant differences in positivity. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Using a cut-off point of   ≥10 mm diameter, a total of 5863 clients were screened for TB. Chi square for trends showed statistical significant decreasing proportion of significant Mantoux reaction status among clients over the study period. Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of negative Mantoux reaction compared to positive reaction. Trend analysis showed a notable downward plunge of significant Mantoux positivity. The trend was towards continuous reduction in Mantoux test result positivity suggesting a tailing of LTBI in this region.

Background: HPV infection is the most common STI in sexually active adolescents. It has been implicated in majority of cases of cervical cancers. HPV is preventable. Potent Vaccines are available. Objective: This study assessed what adolescents know about HPV infection and HPV vaccination, their attitude and uptake of HPV vaccine. This was also to raise awareness and obtain data that will be useful in identifying where to intervene to improve coverage. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study tool was a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit adolescent girls from secondary schools. Results: 445 in-school adolescent girls aged 9 to 19 years participated. Mean age was 13.4 SD = ±2.2 years. 36.6% and 36.8% had heard of HPV infection and HPV vaccine respectively. Only 3.1% of the participants knew HPV could be prevented through vaccination. 71.7% indicated willingness to obtain the vaccine. Only 3.6% self reported to have received at least one dose of the vaccine at the time of the survey. Uptake of HPV vaccine (P=0.00), willingness to be vaccinated (P=0.005) highest among adolescents that had heard of HPV vaccine and those who perceived themselves to be at risk for HPV infection (P=0.005). Insufficient health information, cost of HPV vaccines identified as key barriers to vaccines utilization. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the low level of knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccines willingness to be vaccinated was high. Our study shows that uptake of vaccination is low in our locality.