Low prevalence of isoniazid preventive therapy uptake among HIV-infected patients attending tertiary health facility in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: the burden of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection is a global public health challenge. Despite the benefit of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) in reducing the rate of co-infection, the uptake is generally limited in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IPT use and the factors affecting the uptake among HIV-infected patients attending our Teaching Hospital.

Methods: this cross-sectional survey involved 300 HIV-infected individuals attending the AIDS prevention initiatives in Nigeria clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. A self-designed and well-structured questionnaire was used to document the demographic data, patients’ exposure to tuberculosis, and IPT uptake. Clinical data of eligible patients were also extracted from their case notes. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of IPT use and non-use.

Results: out of the respondents evaluated, (72.7%, n = 218) were females. Tuberculosis was the predominant comorbidity (15.7%, n = 47) and majority (53.0%, n = 159) had a CD4 count of < 500 cells/ml. Overall prevalence of IPT uptake was very low (7.1%, n = 18) among HIV-infected patients. Major factors affecting uptake were lack of awareness of benefit (44.4%, n = 8) and lack of fear of contracting tuberculosis (22.2%, n = 4). However, lack of awareness of IPT benefit was the only independent factor associated with poor IPT uptake (adjusted odds 1168.75, 95% confidence interval: 85.05-16060.33; p = 0.001).

Conclusion: isoniazid preventive therapy uptake was found to be very low in this study. Increased awareness and policy implementation of IPT by the healthcare provider is necessary.