Abstract:
The extent to which HIV affects the treatment outcome of TB patients may not be appreciated until after a research work to determine these effects is carried out. The HIV sero-prevalence among our TB patients was high (26.6%). Though more males (59. ]%) were in our study population, more females 50.4% were HIV positive. The HIV sero-prevalence among fema les (32 .2) was significantly higher than for males (22%). The age group 25 - 34 years were the most affected both by TB 33.9% and HIV 44 .9%. HIV significantly reduced the cure rate Qf TB patients, 69%, when compared to 79.4% among HIV - negative patients. 6.6% of HIV positive patients failed treatment compared to 2.6% among HIV negative. The most affected was the death rate which was 7.3% among HIV Positive and 0.8% among HIV negative. This research exposes the low efficacy of our treatment regimen of 2ERHZ/6EH on patients with HIV infection when compared to 2ERHZ/4RH used in other TB control programmes. More research work needs to be carried out in this field . The drug regimen needs to be upgraded to a more effective regimen . Collaboration between NACA and NTBLCP will go a long way in
controlling this "Cursed Duet".
