Retrospective study of HIV infection in Anti Retroviral Treatment center of Mahendranagar, Nepal.

Background Being the most backward region, The Far Western Development Region has high illiteracy rate, low socioeconomic status and high migration rate contributing the progression of epidemiological status of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) towards generalized form. Objective To study the demographic profile of the HIV positive patients, along with their CD4 status and tuberculosis during diagnosis. Method A retrospective descriptive study carried out from May 2006 to July 2012 in 271 HIV patients registered in HIV clinic of Mahakali Zonal Hospital, Mahendranagar. Result Among 271 patients enrolled, 48.30% (131) were male and 51.7% (140) were females. Thirty seven (13.7%) were less than 15 years and 76.3% (207) were of age 16-45 years. 38.7% were household workers by occupation and 34.50% were involved in agriculture and 3.70%were migrant labour. At the time of presentation, 22.4% (60) were stage I according to WHO staging and 18.5% (50), 58.5 (158) and 0.7% (2) were of stage II, III and IV respectively. Similarly, 33.0% (89) had more than 350 CD4 count at the time of presentation. 20.8% (56) of patients were infected with tuberculosis. Among 236 families, 2 or more members were found to be affected in 24 families. In most of the cases, female were diagnosed first followed by male in the families, where both the couple were infected. Conclusion Most of the HIV infected patients were of productive age group. Majority of patients were uneducated and Tuberculosis was found to be common opportunistic infections associated with HIV infection.