AEGiS-15IAC: Poverty a contributing factor in the high prevalence of HIV/TB co -infection.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Poverty a contributing factor in the high prevalence of HIV/TB co -infection.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10151)

Onyangore ON, Sabeline B
MSF-B Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

ISSUES: To evaluate the link between poverty and TB/HIV co-infection in an urban district hospital, which mainly serves residents from sorrounding Nairobi city slum communities who live in poor enviroment with over crowded shanty houses with generally poor ventilation and sanitation. Most of the inhabitants majorly depend on the low income for their basic needs.

DESCRIPTION: A collaboration relationship was established between a Non-Governmental Organisation (Medicins Sans Frontieres-Belgium) and Mbagathi District Hospital. A continuum of care clinic was established within the hospital to facilitate effective HIV/AIDS counselling and treatment of HIV related health problems for people living with HIV/AIDS within the city sorrounding slum communities. A referral system was developed between the TB clinic, the counselling unit and the HIV clinic. During the counselling sessions, patients were encouraged to talk about their health problems and express their feelings. TB defaulters either indicated that they never collected there drugs because they did not get time off from their places of work for fear of loosing their jobs. Most of the patients were employees with a low income earning.

LESSONS LEARNED: Data analysis on the number of HIV positive tests recorded on monthly basis in the counselling unit showed that most of the re-treatment TB patients who tested positive were people living in the sorrounding slum areas within Nairobi city. This experience showed that economic disparities, particularly income inequalities dramatically affected the health of poor people and contributed to a high increase in the spread of HIV and TB in these communities. Recommendation: This paper recommends establishment of HIV support clinics within hospital settings and community level in order to provide quality care. In order to alleviate the spread of HIV and TB, poor communities need programmes that also address their economic status.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prevalence, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Infection, Poverty, HIV Infections, Communicable Diseases, Counseling, Health Services, Health Services Needs and Demand, Health, Belgium, Humans, epidemiology, economics, therapy, organization & administration

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D10151