Context:Tuberculosis (TB) affects the economically productive age group and has emerged as a disease of significant socio-economic global burden.Aims:The aim of this study is to identify epidemiological factors responsible for TB and the clinico-social correlates influencing their compliance.Subjects and Methods:All new smear positive TB (NSP-TB) patients registered in Dhubri District Tuberculosis Center-Tuberculosis Unit during 2007 in Assam were included in this study. The study was performed by interview technique using a pre-tested questionnaire.Results:Nearly 90.76% of the participants were in the age group of 15-55 years and were predominantly unskilled workers and sole earning member of their family. 83.33% of the patients had symptoms of cough for more than 3 weeks and most of them (98.15%) lived in overcrowded houses. More than half of the patients had X-ray examination as their initial approach to diagnosis. More males (59.18%) than females (40.82%) reported to the health institution within first 6 weeks after the onset of symptom and among them 91.84% were declared cured after completion of therapy and while, only 40% of the patients initiating treatment after 6 weeks of the onset of symptoms were declared cured after completion of therapy.Conclusions:The prevalence of NSP-TB cases was more among the illiterate and underprivileged population who needs counseling and motivation for early intervention.

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BACKGROUNDS: HIV/AIDS has become the most challenging as well as dreaded phenomenon in the global epidemiological transition and has become truly universal threat to civilization. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of Information, Education & Communication (IEC) on Knowledge, Attitude & Practice (KAP) on HIV/AIDS among the slum dwellers of Dibrugarh using the standard IEC package for urban slums formulated by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). METHODS: A total of 246 slum dwellers aged 15-49 years were selected from all the slums of Dibrugarh by stratified systematic random sampling method. The study was conducted in three stages. First a baseline KAP survey on HIV/AIDS was done followed by health education intervention (IEC). Just after the intervention and after three months period, the evaluation of the intervention was conducted. RESULTS: 87% of the respondents were found to have heard of HIV/AIDS. Baseline Knowledge regarding prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS by having one faithful sex partner was there among 65% of the respondents which increased amongst 82.2% of the respondents just after the intervention & amongst 68.5% of the respondents after three months period; similarly knowledge of prevention by using condom, increased from 70.7% to 80.3% & 76.3% of the respondents; using safe blood, increased from 57.7% to 75.4% & 62.9% of the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: From the above findings it was evident that, intervention programs were useful in enhancing the awareness regarding HIV/AIDS among the underprivileged population.

Introduction The HIV cascade of care can identify missed opportunities to optimise control. The first step entails early testing, the second step is to ensure prompt linkage to care once diagnosed. To determine time to linkage to HIV-care following diagnosis at an STI centre, and to identify risk factors for delayed linkage. Methods Patients newly diagnosed with HIV at STI clinics in the Netherlands were followed until linkage to care. Data were collected at time of diagnosis and at first consultation in care, including demographics, behavioural information, CD4 + counts and HIV viral load measurements. Delayed linkage to care was defined as >4 weeks between HIV diagnosis and first consultation. Results 310 participants were included; the majority (90%) men who have sex with men. For 259 participants (84%) a date of first consultation in care was known; median time to linkage was 9 days (range 0-435). Overall, 95 (31%) of participants were not linked within 4 weeks of diagnosis; among them, 44 were linked late and 51 were not linked at all by the end of study follow-up. Being young (<25 yrs), having a non-Western ethnicity or lacking health insurance were independently associated with delayed linkage to care. Also, those being referred to care indirectly were more likely to have delayed linkage. Baseline CD4 + count, viral load, perceived social support and stigma at diagnosis were not associated with delayed linkage. Risk behaviour and CD4+ counts declined between diagnosis and linkage to care. Conclusions Although most newly diagnosed HIV patients were linked to care within 4 weeks, delay was observed for a third, with over half of them not yet linked at the end of follow-up. Vulnerable subpopulations (young, uninsured, ethnic minority) were at risk for delayed linkage. Testing those at risk is not sufficient, timely linkage to care needs to be assured. Disclosure of interest statement This study was funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Netherlands. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study. P17.25 IMPACT ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHANGE OF FIRST LINE ANTI-RETROVIRAL DRUG REGIMENS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING ANTERETROVIRAL THERAPY CLINICS IN BLANTYRE, MALAWIY Gadama*, S Sheikh, P Chasela. University of Malawi, College of Medicine, P/Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi 10.1136/sextrans-2015 Introduction Change of any drug regimen impacts on compliance. Malawi changed the first line ARV regimen from stavudine-based (stavudine + lamivudine + nevarapine) to tenofovirbased regimen (tenofovir + lamivudine + efavirenz) because the former was associated with adverse side-effects and poor compliance. This study aimed at assessing the impact of the new ARV regimen on compliance. Methods Using cross-sectional study, 169 participants recruited from 6 ART clinics randomly selected were interviewed to assess views on compliance, side-effects and satisfaction to new regimen. Self-reported data on compliance was co...