Chikwampu D, Bond V, Ayles H; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. TuPeD3782.

D. Chikwampu, Zambart Project, UTH, PO Box 50110, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel.: +260 1 254 710, Fax: +260 1 254 710, E-mail: zambart@zamnet.zm

Issue: People in Lusaka are still reluctant to be tested for HIV and associate TB with HIV. Description: I have been visiting the households of 55 TB patients in high density residential areas of Lusaka counselling household members on TB and HIV as part of a study looking at transmission of TB. Generally people do not mind talking about TB partly because they want an explanation of "old" and "new" TB - the former they believe can be cured and the other, related to HIV. There are many reasons why people do not want to talk about HIV. Peoples' fears about the double burden of TB and HIV were related to fears of dying faster due to "thinking too much" if they tested positive. Some said that they would rather get over the TB first before testing for HIV - "It is better that I concentrate on TB disease". Most of the clients would rather attribute their TB infection to "fatigue", "carrying things on their heads" or "working very hard without resting". This is indicative of the many burdens that these people face. Relapse TB patients found it more difficult to be tested because they already assume they have HIV and would rather not know. 19 of the 55 TB patients did agree to be tested for HIV, 17 were HIV-positive. Agreeing to be tested was easier for men who were head of the household than it was for wives or men of more junior status. Likewise, if HIV-positive, the double burden was more easily shared for men than for women. Most men told either their wives or their mother about their status but they found it difficult to share with anyone else as they feared it would bring "problems in the home". Women usually did not tell anyone because they feared divorce and stigma. HIV is "an infection of prostitutes". Conclusion: Household counselling can promote greater discussion of TB/HIV within the household. In some cases the double burden of TB and HIV is too great for the patient to cope with. More time with our clients could help them to address their fears.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Counseling
• Family Characteristics
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Infection
• Male
• Research Design
• Zambia

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0002341

UI: 102239835

From Meeting Abstracts