What are the reasons for poor uptake of HIV testing among patients with TB in an Eastern India District?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2013

Country:: India
Document Type:: Journal Article
Theme:: Health
Authors:: Sarkar, S., Gupta, D., Nair, SA., Kumar, AMV., Bishnu, B., Dewan, P., Paul, D., Ahmed, QT., Srinath, S., Bhaduri, S., Chadha, VK., Click, ES.

Abstract

National policy in India recommends HIV testing of all patients with TB. In West Bengal state, only 28% of patients with TB were tested for HIV between April-June, 2010. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey to understand patient, provider and health system related factors associated with low uptake of HIV testing among patients with TB.

The study reviewed TB and HIV program records to assess the HIV testing status of patients registered for anti-TB treatment from July-September 2010 in South-24-Parganas district, West Bengal, assessed availability of HIV testing kits and interviewed a random sample of patients with TB and providers.

Citation

Bishnu, B.; Bhaduri, S.; Kumar, AMV.; Click, ES.; Chadha, VK.; Srinath, S.; Nair, SA.; Gupta, D.; Ahmed, QT.; Sarkar, S.; Paul, D.; Dewan, P. What Are the Reasons for Poor Uptake of HIV Testing among Patients with TB in an Eastern India District? PLoS ONE (2013) 8 (3) e55229. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055229]