Abstract
Understanding the key role which HIV infection plays in deteriorating TB epidemic situation is crucial for implementing HIV/TB collaborating activities in the Belarusian health care system.
The following trends on TB and HIV incidence were reported during the last eight years (2002 – 2009) in Belarus: 10% decrease in TB incidence from 5 139 to 4 633 with the 17% increase in HIV incidence from 915 to 1072, and dramatic (7.5 fold) increase in TB/HIV co-infection incidence from 35 up to 265. The following trends in HIV mortality has been observed in these years: 24 cases in 2002 and 223 cases in 2009 (9.3 fold increase). In the reasons of death for HIV positive patients only 4 (16.7%) patients of all HIV patients died of TB in 2002 to compare with 123 (55.2%) of HIV patients died of TB in 2009. The following social structure of the patients with HIV/TB co-infection has been reported: intravenous drug users (63.4%), heavy drinkers/alcohol addicts (26.8%), patients with history of imprisonment (40.9%), and unemployed (67.1%). Gomel region is the most TB/HIV affected Belarus region, where 61.1% of cases were concentrated of all registered TB/HIV in the country (01.01.2010).
In order to control TB/HIV co-infection spread specific measures based on close cooperation between TB and HIV programs has been implemented in Belarus including: TB prevention, early diagnosis and adequate treatment of TB in HIV positive people.
- © 2011 ERS
