Pattern of HIV positivity among clients seen at a Tertiary Health Care Facility in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pattern of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity among different clients screened in a Nigerian  tertiary hospital, and the prevalence rate with respect to the various indications for the screening.

Design: This is a 5-year retrospective study designed to determine the pattern of HIV positivity among different clients at various  screening points, in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria, which serves a state of 2.38 million people.

Subjects: are patients who were screened between the years 2015-2019, and who had results documented during the period of study.

Intervention: All data from January 2015 to December 2019, for HIV testing from various screening points of the hospital were retrieved and collated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.

Main outcome: There is lower HIV prevalence among hospital clients compared to the general populace, with lowest yield of HIV  positivity recorded among those that came to be voluntarily screened, in spite of screening being free of charge.

Results: One hundred and twenty-seven (0.44%) out of 29,128 tested positive to HIV. The high prevalence rates of 3.1%, 1.0% and 0.9% were recorded among those with clinical indications, Tuberculosis/ directly observed therapy (TB/DOT) clinic and prospective donors respectively. (P value<0.001)

Conclusion: Voluntary HIV screening yields the least percentage of positives. There is lower HIV seroprevalence among hospital clients  compared to the general populace, thus the need to take testing and linkage to communities where those infected, can easily come out  for testing.