Comorbidities of HIV infection and health care seeking behavior among HIV infected patients attending public sector healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal: A cross sectional study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170983
• Publication Date: 2017-02-02T18:50:18Z
• Authors: Manimbulu Nlooto
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Odds

Background HIV-infected people may present with co-infections, comorbidities, and side effects associated antiretroviral therapy. This study explored the prevalence of comorbid health problems determined extent use traditional medicine for treatment comorbidities HIV infection effects. Methods A cross sectional study, using researcher-administered questionnaires, was carried out among patients in eight public sector healthcare facilities KwaZulu-Natal between April October 1024. Self-reports co-infections were analyzed respect to factors such as age, gender, race, care seeking behavior including medicine. Cross-tabulations conducted test association medicine, Pearson chi-squared (χ2) test. Simple multiple logistic regression models tested comorbidities. Odds ratios 95% confidence intervals estimated. Missing values handled, defined treated missing final analysis. Results Overall, 29.5% (n = 516) survey participants reported having other or besides their condition. Same two more Almost forty percent (208/531, 39.17%) hypertension most noninfectious comorbidity while 21.65% (115/531) had tuberculosis accounting infectious comorbidity. (142/1748, 8.12%) after starting cART. Sixty 142 (60/142, 42.25%) on cART resorted management infection. 311 1748 (17.80%) complained ARVs related side-effects. Forty-five those side-effects (141/311, 45.34%) taking various types medicines treating side-effects, 90.07% them (127/141) prescribed by biomedically trained doctors pharmacy personnel over-the -counter medicines, p <0. 001. Very few (14/141, 9.93%) therapy no significant difference (p=0.293). In a regression, adjusting race due therapy, odds almost times higher [odds ratio 1.884, Confidence Interval 1.317–2.695] p-value< 0.001. Conclusions Comorbidities, are prevalent attending facilities. significantly presence than factors. The does not explain increased Findings from this should be interpreted cautiously they cannot generalized entire population KwaZulu-Natal. Studies safety efficacy herbal needed beneficiation minority who still resort co-treatment combination