Theme: Clinical Research Year: 2015
Introduction:
To provide the knowledge of HCV disease for HCV/HIV co-infection patients and study their ability in HCV treatment access in limited setting.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in NHTD from June to December 2012. HCV knowledge including the disease progression, management and treatment were provided for all chronic HCV/HIV co-infection patients at OPC (out – patients clinic) – NHTD by doctors.
Results:
There was 825 (40 %) HCV/HIV co-infection in total 2064 HIV patients in this hospital have been receiving information about HCV disease at that time. After that there were 226 (27.3%) patients who agreed to do Fibroscan and only 71 (8.6%) patients did HCV – RNA test with 63 (7.6%) out of them having HCV-RNA positive. Only 26 patients (3.2%) joined to HCV treatment by PEG – IFN plus ribavirin. Refused to take the test or treatment due no having money was reasons given by most of patients at that time.
Conclusion:
High rate of HCV/HIV coinfections but can not access to the treatment due to expensive price that things make a big challenge in HCV management for both patient and health care provider at OPC-NHTD.