Prevalence of tuberculosis, HIV, and TB-HIV co-infection among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects in a predominantly pastoralist area, northeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: TB-HIV co-infection is one of the biggest public health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Although there is a wealth of information on TB-HIV co-infection among settled populations in Africa and elsewhere, to our knowledge, there are no published reports on TB-HIV co-infection from pastoral communities. In this study, we report the prevalence of TB, HIV and TB-HIV co-infection among pulmonary TB suspects in the Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study design, 325 pulmonary TB suspects were included from five health facilities. Three sputum samples (spot-morning-spot) were collected from each participant. Sputum samples were examined for the presence of acid fast bacilli using Ziehl-Neelsen staining method, and culture was done on the remaining sputum samples. Participants were interviewed and HIV tested. RESULTS: Of the 325 pulmonary TB suspects, 44 (13.5%) were smear positive, and 105 (32.3%) were culture positive. Among smear-positive patients, five were culture negative and, therefore, a total of 110 (33.8%) suspects were bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients. Out of 287 pulmonary TB suspects who were tested for HIV infection, 82 (28.6%) were HIV positive. A significantly higher proportion of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients [40 (40.4%)] were HIV co-infected compared with patients without bacteriological evidence for pulmonary TB [42 (22.3%)]. However, among ethnic Afar pastoralists, HIV infections in smear- and/or culture-negative pulmonary TB suspects [7 (7.6%)] and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients [4 (11.8%)] were comparable. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, Afar ethnicity was independently associated with low HIV infection [OR=0.16 (95% CI: 0.07-0.37)], whereas literacy was independently associated with higher HIV infection [OR=2.21 (95% CI: 1.05-4.64)]. CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection in the current study is high, ethnic Afars had significantly lower HIV infection both in suspects as well as TB patients. The data suggest that the prevalence of HIV infection among Afar pastoralists is probably low. However, population-based prevalence studies are needed to substantiate our findings

Environmental health · Pathology · Pulmonary tuberculosis · Tuberculosis · Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology · Immunology

• Prevalence of TB-HIV coinfection burden in a tertiary care center from 2018 to 2020, A retrospective four-year study

  Open Access•Meher Sasmita, Meher Bhanjan et al.•International Journal of Health…•2022

  Incluir item

• Traditional healers’ role in the detection of active tuberculosis cases in a pastoralist community in Ethiopia

  Open Access•Bezawit Temesgen Sima, Tefera Belachew et al.•BMC Public Health•2019

  Incluir item

• Joint spatiotemporal modelling of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus in Ethiopia using a Bayesian hierarchical approach

  Open Access•Legesse Kassa Debusho, Leta Lencha Gemechu•BMC Public Health•2025

  Incluir item

• Treatment Outcome of Tuberculosis and Associated Factors among TB-HIV Co-Infected Patients at Public Hospitals of Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia. A five-year retrospective study

  Open Access•Assefa Tola, Kirubel Minsamo Mishore et al.•BMC Public Health•2019

  Incluir item

• Reduced Lung Function among Workers in Primary Coffee Processing Factories in Ethiopia

  Open Access•Samson Wakuma Abaya, Magne Bråtveit et al.•International Journal of…•2018

  Incluir item

• Migration, pastoralists, HIV infection and access to care

  Abdulrazaq G Habib, Jibril Jumare•African Journal of AIDS Research•2008

  Incluir item

• Diagnostic and treatment delay among Tuberculosis patients in Afar Region, Ethiopia

  Open Access•Mulugeta Belay, Gunnar Bjune et al.•BMC Public Health•2012

  Incluir item

• Common types of tuberculosis and co-infection with HIV at private health institutions in Ethiopia

  Open Access•Getahun Asres Alemie, Feseha Gebreselassie•BMC Public Health•2014

  Incluir item

• The rate of TB-HIV co-infection depends on the prevalence of HIV infection in a community

  Open Access•Daniel G Datiko, Mohammed A Yassin et al.•BMC Public Health•2008

  Incluir item

• Patterns of knowledge and condom use among population groups

  Open Access•Getnet Mitike Kassie, Damen Haile Mariam et al.•BMC Public Health•2008

  Incluir item

• They were about to take out their guns on us’

  Rosalijn Both, Eyelachew Etsub et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2013

  Incluir item