Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment-Naïve Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Seropositive Patients in Uyo, Nigeria: Are the Demographics Changing?

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection poses a great health and economic burden, especially in developing nations where a high burden of disease has been described. A previous study in Uyo shows that some characteristics associated with a higher prevalence of HIV infection include female gender, exposure to tertiary level of education, and late disease presentation. This study aimed at determining the sociodemographic and the clinical characteristics of highly active antiretroviral treatment-naïve (HAART-naïve) HIV-seropositive patients at Uyo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study of 210 respondents, composed of 105 HAART-naïve HIV-seropositive patients (subjects) and an equal number of sex- and age-matched HIV-negative individuals (controls). Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires and hospital records. Anthropometry and blood pressure (BP) were measured for all the respondents, while clinical and immunologic staging were done for subjects. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS v 20. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34.5 ± 9.2 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:2.3, with no difference between the subjects and controls (P = 0.880 for age and P = 0.943 for gender). Mean body mass index and mean diastolic BP were significantly lower in the subjects (P < 0.001 and 0.037, respectively). Female gender, secondary level of educational attainment, and unskilled employment were significantly associated with HIV infection. Majority of the respondents presented in clinical Stage 1 or 2 disease, with CD4 count >350 cells/ml. Conclusion: The burden of HIV infection is higher in females and in those with sociodemographic characteristics suggestive of lower socioeconomic status, however, majority of these appeared to present in early disease.

[1]  J. Atashili,et al.  Prevalence of Hypertension in HIV/AIDS Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Compared with HAART-Naïve Patients at the Limbe Regional Hospital, Cameroon , 2016, PloS one.

[2]  M. Suthanthiran,et al.  Hypertension, kidney disease, HIV and antiretroviral therapy among Tanzanian adults: a cross-sectional study , 2014, BMC Medicine.

[3]  M. Sani,et al.  Cardiovascular disease risk factors among HIV-infected Nigerians receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy , 2013, Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association.

[4]  Partha Sardar,et al.  Prevalence of Paediatric HIV Infection in Eastern India-First report , 2011 .

[5]  C. Comoro,et al.  Barriers to ARV adherence among HIV/AIDS positive persons taking anti-retroviral therapy in two Tanzanian regions 8-12 months after program initiation. , 2010 .

[6]  T. Singh.  Research Methodology Simplified: Every Clinician a Researcher , 2010 .

[7]  T. Quinn,et al.  HIV/AIDS in Women: An Expanding Epidemic , 2005, Science.

[8]  K. Birkeland,et al.  Prevalence of Hypertension in HIV-Positive Patients on Highly Active Retroviral Therapy (HAART) Compared with HAART-Naïve and HIV-Negative Controls: Results from a Norwegian Study of 721 Patients , 2003, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

[9]  R. Hayes,et al.  Socioeconomic status and risk of HIV infection in an urban population in Kenya , 2002, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH.

[10]  S. Grinspoon,et al.  Body-composition measurements as predictors of glucose and insulin abnormalities in HIV-positive men. , 2002, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[11]  M. Perry.  Gender, Race and Economic Perspectives on the Social Epidemiology of HIV Infection: Implications for Prevention , 1998, Journal of Primary Prevention.

[12]  P. Kissinger,et al.  Declining morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. , 1998, The New England journal of medicine.

[13]  G. Satten,et al.  Declining morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. HIV Outpatient Study Investigators. , 1998, The New England journal of medicine.

[14]  N. Michael,et al.  Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. , 2004, Military medicine.

[15]  M. Olamoyegun,et al.  Hiv/aids – Research and Palliative Care Dovepress Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Hiv Infection in a Rural Tertiary Health Center , 2022 .