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Characteristics of adults and children diagnosed with tuberculosis in Lilongwe, Malawi: findings from an integrated HIV/TB clinic

Feldacker, C., Tweya, H., Keiser, O., Weigel, Ralf ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9034-2634, Kalulu, M., Fenner, L., Egger, M., Manda, E., Mwafilaso, J. B., Kamba, C. and Phiri, S. (2012) 'Characteristics of adults and children diagnosed with tuberculosis in Lilongwe, Malawi: findings from an integrated HIV/TB clinic'. Tropical Medicine & International Health, Vol 17, Issue 9, pp. 1108-1116.

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Abstract

Objectives 
To describe initial registration characteristics of adult and paediatric TB patients at a large, public, integrated TB and HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, between January 2008 and December 2010.

Methods 
Routine data on patient with TB category and TB type, stratified by HIV and ART status, were used to explore differences in proportions among TB only, TB/HIV co-infected patients not on ART and TB/HIV co-infected patients on ART using chi-square tests. Trends over time illustrate strengths and weaknesses of integrated service provision.

Results 
Among 10 143 adults, HIV ascertainment and ART uptake were high and increased over time. The proportion of relapse was highest among those on ART (5%). The proportion of smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) was highest among HIV-negative patients with TB (34.9%); extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) was lowest among TB only (16.2%). Among 338 children <15 years, EPTB and smear-positive PTB were more common among TB-only patients. Time trends showed significant increases in the proportion of adults with smear-positive PTB and the proportion of adults already on ART before starting TB treatment. However, some co-infected patients still delay ART initiation.

Conclusions 
HIV ascertainment and ART uptake among co-infected patients are successful and improving over time. However, delays in ART initiation indicate some weakness linking TB/HIV patients into ART during TB follow-up care. Improved TB diagnostics and screening efforts, especially for paediatric patients, may help improve quality care for co-infected patients. These results may aid efforts to prioritise TB and HIV prevention, education and treatment campaigns for specific populations.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: W General Medicine. Health Professions > Health Services. Patients and Patient Advocacy > W 84 Health services. Delivery of health care
WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503 Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV infections
WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503.2 Therapy
WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 200 Tuberculosis (General)
WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 360 Drug therapy
Faculty: Department: Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03041.x
Depositing User: Lynn Roberts-Maloney
Date Deposited: 07 Jan 2015 10:59
Last Modified: 11 May 2018 09:13
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/4714

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