| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 4
| Issue : 2 | Page : 31-36 |
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Knowledge regarding co-trimoxazole preventive therapy among patients who are HIV positive in a tertiary health facility, northeastern Nigeria
Ballah Akawu Denue
Department of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Ballah Akawu Denue
Department of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, PMB 1069, University of Maiduguri, Borno State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ssajm.ssajm_22_16
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Background: Co-trimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, CTX) is known to be effective against common opportunistic infections associated with severe immunosuppression such as AIDS. Its use among patients with defects in immunity and multiple infections is associated with significant reduction in morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To determine and predict the level of knowledge regarding co-trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) among patients with HIV.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 358 patients who were HIV positive. An expert-validated, interviewer-administered questionnaire with Cronbach alpha of 0.67 was used to assess patients’ knowledge regarding CPT.
Results: Most respondents, 323 (90.2%) in total, reported not to have ever been counseled on CPT. The proportion of those counseled showed female preponderance, with 26 females (74.3%) compared with nine males (25.7%). Among those who responded to ever been counseled, only 19% had questionnaire-defined (≥50% score) adequate knowledge. The level of education and counseling regarding CPT were independent predictors of knowledge. Patients with secondary and tertiary education were three times [P = 0.021, odds ratio (OR) = 3.098, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.187–8.084] and 18.7 times (P < 0.001, OR = 18.764, CI = 6.862–51.313) likely to demonstrate having adequate knowledge than those without formal education. Similarly, adherence counseling was associated with 16 times greater chance for demonstrating adequate knowledge (P < 0.001, OR = 16.063, CI = 5.768–44.733).
Conclusion: Knowledge on the use of CPT is poor in our setting; adherence counseling on its use is recommended at services delivery points. |
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