DefinePK

Abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS is a global problem, South Asia and Africa bearing the maximum burden.The incidence is reported to be rising in Pakistan. It is important to document the prevalence of variousrisk factors in our population so that appropriate measures could be taken for preventing emergence ofnew cases. Objectives were to identify the possible etiological factors/high risk behaviour in casesdiagnosed as HIV/AIDS presenting at a tertiary care referral centre. Methods: Prospectiveobservational case series carried out over a one year period at HIV/AIDS referral centre at Allama IqbalMedical College Lahore. Five hundred patients were included who were positive for HIV on screeningdevices and then confirmed by ELISA. All these patients were referrals from Punjab AIDS controlprogramme (PACP). A detailed history was taken on a pre-designed Performa specially targeted toidentify the known risk factors for HIV infection. Results: Five hundred HIV positive subjectsdiagnosed by screening device and confirmed on ELISA were included in the present study. Threehundred and fourteen (63%) were males and 186 (37%) were females. Mean age was 35±12 years.Most prevalent risk factor among these patients was sexual transmission followed by intravenous drugabuse, injections from substandard health facilities, and transmission from infected spouse.Conclusion: HIV/AIDS is a preventable disease if the risk factors are avoided. Community awarenessfor unsafe homo and heterosexual practices and discouraging visits to non qualified health practitionersshould be the top priority by PACP apart from controlling the IDUs menace.Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Pakistan, Punjab, STD, epidemic, commercial sex worker, quackery, IDUs