Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR)
Volume-3 | Issue-02 | 33-38
Original Research Article
Profile of Clients Attending Integrated Counseling & Testing Centre in Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India
Dr. Amit Sachdeva, Dr. Vimal Bharti, Dr. Simarjot, Dr. Ashok Sharma, Dr. Dalip Gupta, Mrs. Godawari
Published : March 30, 2018
Abstract
An integrated counseling and testing centre is a place where a person is
counseled and tested for HIV, on his own free will or as advised by a medical
provider. The main functions of an ICTC include: Early detection of HIV, Provision
of basic information on modes of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS for
promoting behavioral change, reducing vulnerability and link people with other HIV
prevention, care & treatment services. ICTC data can guide in identifying the
various risk groups for priority targeted interventions to reduce HIV transmission in
the community. To estimate the prevalence, mode of transmission, risk behavior and
socio-demographic characteristics of attendees who tested HIV positive at ICTC in
IGMC, Shimla for the year 2016 and prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection among
HIV positive cases. This study is based on the Record review of attendees at ICTC
in Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital in Shimla from 1st January to 31st
December 2016. Data was entered using Microsoft excel software and analyzed
with the help of epi info v7. This study depicts the role of ICTC & its
Implementation in a Medical College. Among the 9156 total attendees in a year
2016 at ICTC, 63 were HIV Positive, so the overall prevalence of HIV among
attendees was 0.69%, in which 41 were males and maximum (29) were in the age
group of 35-49 years. TB-HIV co-infection was present in 3 patients out of 41 who
were referred to RNTCP centre. Most common (71.42%) mode of transmission was
heterosexual. Govt/ Pvt services & truck driving were the common occupations
among HIV Positive Patients. Present study shows that males, 35-49 years of age
group, hetero-sexual mode of Transmission & Inservice (Govt/Pvt) and truck
drivers by occupation were predominate among HIV Positives. So we need to focus
on these groups by IEC or BCC activities to modify the risk behavior to reverse the
HIV epidemic.