Assessment of trends of HIV and its opportunistic infections in Ethiopian Police Settings

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome is one of Ethiopia’s most alarming public health challenges to the socio-economic development and security. Different researches have been done to see the progress of disease from time to time. However, information that shows the trend of HIV among police force over a period of time in Ethiopia is very limited. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and trends of HIV /AIDS and opportunistic infections in Ethiopian police. Methods: Descriptive statistics was computed to determine the prevalence and trends of HIV/AIDS and its opportunistic infections and other variables. Data gathered from Health Management Information System office of the Federal Police Hospital, from September, 2010 to August, 2013. Data were cleaned, edited and entered into computer and analyzed with SPSS version 16.0. Then Chi-Square (X2) Statistical test was used for testing associations and P value less or equal to five percent (P <=0.05) was considered significant. RESULTS: From all federal police health facilities out of the total 26,271 tested for HIV, from September 2010 to 2013, 15,937 (60.3%) were males. Eight hundred forty seven (3.2%) were positive for HIV. The prevalence of HIV infection was 2% for males and 1.2% for females. The age specific prevalence was highest in the age group 26-35 years (2.2%) followed by 36– 45 (1.4%) median age 31.2, with IQR 8.92. Out of the total sampled 356 HIV positive patients, linked on ART and pre-ART, about 125(35%) of them had more than one opportunistic infections. CONCLUSION: There is decreasing trend of sero-positivity over the years, with higher prevalence among sexually active age groups. Diarrhea, thrush, and pulmonary TB were the leading OIs contracted by HIV-infected patients. Strong STI/HIV educational intervention to alter risk-taking behavior among Police force is recommended. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2014;28(3):162-169]