Low partner testing in high HIV prevalence setting in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a retrospective study

BMC Research Notes

Sulaiman Lakoh¹  Gibrilla Fadlu Deen¹  Darlinda F. Jiba²  Emmanuel Firima³  Mariama Marco Conteh⁴  Momodu Sesay⁵ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone;Department of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex;Karolinska Institute;National AIDS Control Programme;National HIV/AIDS Secretariat;

关键词: Connaught Hospital;    Clients;    Provider;    Counselling;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-019-4662-9

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Objective Despite a 1.5% National HIV prevalence, less than 40% of people living with HIV in Sierra Leone know their status. Limited activities on testing partners of HIV patients could be contributory to this substantial unawareness of HIV status. We carried out a retrospective study aimed at assessing partner testing and HIV prevalence among adults (≥ 15 years) tested using Determine™ and SD Bioline as recorded in the HIV testing registers from January to December 2017 at Connaught Hospital, an urban tertiary hospital in Sierra Leone. Results Of the 3808 clients tested for HIV, 2048 (53.8%) were females. The median age was 31 (IQR 24–42) years and 2104 (55.3%) were single. While 3014 (79.1%) had Provider-Initiated Testing and Counseling (PITC), 794 (20.9%) had Client-Initiated Testing and Counseling (CITC). HIV test was positive in 925 (24.3%) {CI 22.9–25.6, P < 0.001} clients. Of the 17 (0.4%) partners tested for HIV, 9 (52.9%) were positive. PITC yielded more HIV positive cases (760, 25.2%) than CITC (165, 20.8%). Partner testing (P = 0.007), female sex (P < 0.001) and PITC (P = 0.006) were associated with a positive HIV diagnosis. With high HIV prevalence and low partner testing, activities on partner testing are needed to improve the response to the epidemic.

【 授权许可】

Unknown