Intensified tuberculosis case finding, implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy and associated factors among people living with human immunodeficiency virus at public health facilities of Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Globally, the number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) particularly in sub-Saharan Africa is growing. This has been resulted in increased number of tuberculosis (TB) new cases. To control burden of TB among PLHIV, a number of collaborative TB/HIV activities were recommended. However, data about collaborative TB/HIV services in the study area is scarce. The objective of this study is to assess intensified TB case finding, implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) and associated factors among PLHIV.

Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study design was employed among 419 randomly selected PLHIV from public health facilities of Harari region. Systematic sampling method was used to obtain sample from each health facilities. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the presence of association between variables using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and association was declared significant at P ≤ 0.05.

Results: One hundred fifteen (75.2%) of the respondents reported that they offered screening for TB during their HIV chronic cares and 94 (29.8%) of them were found to be positive for active TB. Female sex [AOR 2.51; 95%CI (1.52, 6.14)], educated patients [AOR 0.52; 95%CI (0.21, 0.83)], CD4 count greater than 350 cells/dl [AOR 0.62; 95%CI(0.22,0.82)], Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) initiation [AOR 0.50; 95%CI (0.35, 0.88)] and missing dose of ART [AOR 2.57; 95%CI (1.21, 5.32)] were significantly associated with TB infection. Nearly four-fifth (78.7 %) of the study participants were provided IPT.

Conclusions: Screening of TB among PLHIV and implementation of IPT in the region is lower when compared to the findings of other studies conducted in different parts of the country and needs to be improved through implementation of national and international guidelines.