Title: Socio-demographic variables and markers of immunity in HIV seropositive population of a Northern Indian town
Authors: Parvez Anwar Khan, Nazish Fatima, Haris Manzoor Khan
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i9.50
Abstract
Introduction: As per the India HIV Estimation 2015 report, adult (15-49 years) H1V prevalence in India was estimated at 0.26%. Since the early days of HIV infection and AIDS, it has been recognized that the disease progresses in several stages due to the progression of immunosuppression. The level of immunosuppression is linked directly to the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count.
Materials and Methods: The study group comprised of HIV positive patients. Cases were recruited from the outpatient department, wards, Anti-Retroviral Treatment clinic and ICTC, both ART naïve as well as patients on ART were studied. All patients were evaluated by a predesigned protocol.
Results: A total of 160 HIV positive patients were included in this study. The maximum number of patients both male and female were found in the age group of 20 - 40 years. Majority of the patients (80.6%) were married. Patients belonging to the rural areas. Heterosexual route of transmission of HIV was ascertained in 119 (74.4%) patients out of 160.Most of the patients included in this study were in advanced stage of disease, 48.7 % of patients had their CD4 count less than 200 and only 8% had their CD4 count more than 500.
Conclusion: Most of the patients were in young and sexually active age group, • Laborers, farmers and drivers comprised the major occupation of the study group. Heterosexual transmission of HIV infection was the most common route. Most of the patients had low CD4 cell count
Keywords: HIV Positive, Socio-demographic variables, transmission, Cd4 Cell count.
