Abstract:
Introduction: Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, causing high morbidity and mortality, especially in LMICs. HIV co‑infection worsens outcomes, driving severe disease, diagnostic delays, and poor treatment success. Ethiopia is among the most affected countries, with TB/HIV prevalence and mortality particularly high in the Amhara region. Systematic reviews report co‑infection prevalence exceeding 25%, with mortality rates above 16%. Recent studies in Northwest Ethiopia highlight alarming co‑infection levels, underscoring the urgent need for integrated TB/HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
Objective: this study aims to determine the prevalence of HIV co-infection and its associated factors among tuberculosis patients in displaced and its hosting populations of the Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A multicenter cross‑sectional study was conducted from July to September 2024 across displaced population sites in North Gondar, Amhara region, to evaluate the burden of HIV among tuberculosis patients. 5ml of the blood sample were collected from each TB-patient to screen HIV status using rapid test kits (Stat-pack, Abon and SD Bioline). Variables for the multivariable model were selected through a stepwise likelihood ratio approach, excluding non‑significant predictors (p > 0.05).
Results: Among the 102 tuberculosis-positive patients included in the study, 20 were HIV-positive, resulting in an HIV prevalence of 19.6% (95% CI: 11.8%–27.4%). The prevalence of HIV among TB patients was higher among refugees (25.6%; 95% CI: 11.99%–39.17%) compared with non-refugee residents (15.25%; 95% CI: 5.80%–24.70%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified refugee residence (AOR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.99–11.54), lower educational status (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.13–12.93), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 12.45, 95% CI: 1.18–13.66), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 6.36, 95% CI: 1.03–36.67) as independent factors significantly associated with HIV infection among tuberculosis patients (p < 0.05).
Biography :
Deresse Daka is an Ethiopian medical microbiologist and academic affiliated with Hawassa University. He serves as an Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and has contributed extensively to research in infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and public health microbiology.
He earned his MSc in Medical Microbiology from Addis Ababa University in 2011 and previously completed a BSc in Medical Laboratory Science from Jimma University. He is also reported as a PhD candidate at the University of Gondar.
Dr. Daka has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications related to antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus infection, prison health, and environmental microbiology. His research has appeared in journals such as BMC Infectious Diseases, BMC Microbiology, and Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials.
