RISK FACTORS AMONG HIV POSITIVE/AIDS PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE REFERRAL CENTRE
Abstract
Background: HIV/AIDS is a global problem, South Asia and Africa bearing the maximum burden.The incidence is reported to be rising in Pakistan. It is important to document the prevalence of various
risk factors in our population so that appropriate measures could be taken for preventing emergence of
new cases. Objectives were to identify the possible etiological factors/high risk behaviour in cases
diagnosed as HIV/AIDS presenting at a tertiary care referral centre. Methods: Prospective
observational case series carried out over a one year period at HIV/AIDS referral centre at Allama Iqbal
Medical College Lahore. Five hundred patients were included who were positive for HIV on screening
devices and then confirmed by ELISA. All these patients were referrals from Punjab AIDS control
programme (PACP). A detailed history was taken on a pre-designed Performa specially targeted to
identify the known risk factors for HIV infection. Results: Five hundred HIV positive subjects
diagnosed by screening device and confirmed on ELISA were included in the present study. Three
hundred and fourteen (63%) were males and 186 (37%) were females. Mean age was 35±12 years.
Most prevalent risk factor among these patients was sexual transmission followed by intravenous drug
abuse, injections from substandard health facilities, and transmission from infected spouse.
Conclusion: HIV/AIDS is a preventable disease if the risk factors are avoided. Community awareness
for unsafe homo and heterosexual practices and discouraging visits to non qualified health practitioners
should be the top priority by PACP apart from controlling the IDUs menace.
Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Pakistan, Punjab, STD, epidemic, commercial sex worker, quackery, IDUs
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