Prevalence of HIV infection among subjects visitng a private medical laboratory outfit in Nsukka, Enugu State

Abstract

An insight into the level of understanding and response to HIV infection was obtained by comparing the number of people that went for voluntary and referred HIV screening for a period of five (5) years (2004-2009) at a private laboratory in Nsukka, Enugu State. Their sexes and ages were equally noted. Blood samples were collected from them and screened for presence of HIV following a standard procedure. The infection was independent of sex but attacked mainly the working class. The infection rate was highest (13.89%) in 2004 and decreased to 1.96% in 2008 then increased slightly in 2009. The number of people that went for voluntary screening for HIV increased from 36.78% (2004) to 57.83% (2009). Though the scourge still living with us, there is an increase in the level of awareness of the infection towards voluntary screening that could lead to early detection of the infection and better management.

Keywords: HIV, prevalence, voluntary, referred, medical laboratory outfit

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 7 No. 2 (2010)