A Study on Profiles of Clients Attending an Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre of Tertiary Care Hospital in a Northern Hilly State, India

Objectives: To study the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile and risk behaviours of HIV positive and HIV negative clients. Settings and design: This hospital based crosssectional study was conducted in the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) of a tertiary care hospital, Shimla. Subjects & Methods: A sample of 525 consecutive attendees in the age group of 15 to ≥50 years were included as study subjects. Their clinical presentations, Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) and sites of Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) were studied. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect a detailed history followed by a physical examination, eventually laboratory and radiological investigations were carried out appropriately. Statistical analysis: The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: 37.7% were seropositives and 62.3% were seronegatives. Of the seropositives more affected were females, 53% than males, 47%. Wherein among seronegatives, male to female ratio was 2:1. Among seropositives, most common symptom presented was recurrent fever, 55.1% followed by cough, 39.4%, weight loss 23.7%, diarrhea, 22.2% and STDs, 20.2% as compared to seronegatives wherein recurrent fever was 48% followed by cough, 26.6% weight loss, 12.5% diarrhea 11% and STDs 6.7% (p<.001). 17.7% of seropositives as compared to 10.1% of seronegatives were suffering from PTB infection (P < 0.006). EPTB was observed in almost double the proportion, 24.2% of seropositives as compared to seronegatives, 12% (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: ICTC services could make difference by integrated approach and addressing to all the needs.

Author(s): Tripti Chauhan*, A.K. Bhardwaj, Anupam Parashar and A.K. Kanga

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