Health Care Worker Perception on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Service Delivery among Health Care Workers in South-East Nigeria (Published)
Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention among health care workers (HCWs) remains a key issue. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus endangers public health and kills a large number of individuals, including medical staff. There is now a genuine danger of HIV transmission among HCWs during work exposure. This study aims to assess health care worker perception on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and service delivery among health care workers in South-East Nigeria. Descriptive cross sectional study design using multistage sampling techniques was used to select four hundred respondents. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 25.0. Mean scores were generated for the major outcome variables of knowledge, attitude and practice of immunization schedule. P value was assumed significant at values less than 0.05. The findings of this study shows that 218 (54.5%) were male and 182 (45.5%) were female, 312 (78.0%) have good knowledge , 109 (27.3%) had history of occupational exposure to HIV, 234 (58.5%) had high, 85 (21.3%) had moderate and 81 (20.3%) had low level of exposure to occupational HIV, socio demographic variable based on age, religion, tribe, marital status and tear of practice shows a significant association with perceived level of exposure to occupational HIV at (ꭓ2=45.511, p=0.000), (ꭓ2=67.189, p=0.000), (ꭓ2=692.874, p=0.000), (ꭓ2=35.331, p=0.000) and (ꭓ2=34.899, p=0.000) respectively as p<0.05 and non-significant association with gender of the respondents at p<0.05. The findings from this study shows that there is a high level of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among health care workers in the study area, larger proportion perceived level of exposure to occupational HIV and at significant risk of acquiring occupational infections, even though majority were satisfied with service delivery. Health authorities in the study area need to improve the training of HCWs and provision of infection prevention equipment.
Keywords: HIV, Perception, Prophylaxis, Service delivery, health care worker
Reliability of Some Selected Novel Markers in Detecting Early Renal Dysfunction in HIV Positive Patients on TDF Regimen: A Nigerian Study (Published)
This study evaluated the predictability of novel biomarkers (Urine Cystatin C, NGAL and Albumin) in detecting early renal dysfunction. About 140 patients (53 (37.9 %) male and 87 (62.1%) female) who attends ARV clinic at the University’s Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt were included in the study. The study was designed in 3 phase to include Visit 0, 1 and 2 which lasted for about 12weeks (3months). Visit 1 was 4weeks from visit 0 and Visit 2 was 8 weeks from Visit 1. Laboratory assessment was carried out on samples collected from the patients, Albumin was 0.90±0.56, 1.36±0.89, and 1.36±0.94; Urine Creatinine was 479±1.90, 489.06±445.09 and 514.85±595.55; Urine Total Protein was 15.04±26.73 9.50±5.07 and 6.53±3.84; while NGAL was, 1902.51±902.59, 1941.48±743.60 and 4881.60±2792.01and Cystatin C was 889.70±1201.04, 1062.38±1165.38 and 1577.92±506.61 for Visit 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Significant difference was observed in the measured parameters across all Visits from 1st visit to end of the study. The differences observed between the markers across all visits were significant. Using differential reliability test, NGAL has 241.67% better chance of predicting renal dysfunction compared to Cystatin C, while Cystatin C has 166.67% better chance of predicting renal dysfunction compared to albumin, while NGAL also has 811.1% better chance of predicting renal impairment as compared to albumin. However, creatinine clearance did not pick up renal dysfunction. This study is therefore recommended to Physicians in other to help in diagnosing early renal dysfunction in HIV patients, especially those on tenofovir (TDF) based ARV regime which has been proven to cause renal dysfunction.
Keywords: Biomarkers, Cystatin C and Albumin, HIV, NGAL, Tenofovir
Evaluating the Effect of Moringa (K Formula Dietary Supplement) On Renal Function among HIV Positive Patients on TDF Regimen: A Longitudinal Study of Nigerians (Published)
This study evaluated the effect of Moringa on the renal function of HIV positive patients. It was a time dependent comparative pilot study involving 140 patients (53 (37.9 %) male and 87 (62.1%) female) in the sampled population, who attends ARV clinic at the University’s Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. The study was a 3 phases design to include Visit 0, 1 and 2 which lasted for about 12weeks (3months). The subjects were divided into two experimental groups (those receiving tenofovir and moringa and those receiving tenofovir without moringa supplementation). For the moringa group at visit 0, 1 and 2 respectively, the following values were obtained (Urine phosphate was 16.3711.84, 12.798.37 and 18.356.29; Urine Albumin was 2.001.41, 1.290.96 and 1.132.54; Urine Creatinine was 125.682.01, 418.53225.54 and 766.211030.82; Uric acid was 326.4387.45, 289.8782.50 and 239.3867.36; Urine Total Protein was 7.625.06; 19.8542.94 and 8.453.85. Significant differences were seen in the measured parameters at Visit 0, 1 and 2. However in the non moringa group, Urine phosphate was 16.93±12.53, 17.49±9.33 and 18.94±6.77; Urine Albumin was 0.90±0.56, 1.36±0.89, and 1.36±0.94; Urine Creatinine was 479±1.90, 489.06±445.09 and 514.85±595.55; Uric acid was 317.81±72.78, 311.79±65.55 and 259.56±84.04; Urine Total Protein was 15.04±26.73 9.50±5.07 and 6.53±3.84; for Visit 0, 1 and 2. Significant difference was observed in the measured parameters across all Visits from baseline to end of study. However differences were generally higher in the control, compared to the experimental groups. Finding therefore shows that moringa improved renal function slightly in HIV positive subjects, while sex was also observed to play a role. The study is therefore recommended to Physicians and care givers in other to help improve the health and wellbeing of HIV patients, especially those on tenofovir (TDF) based ARV regimen.
Keywords: HIV, Moringa, Renal Dysfunction, Tenofovir
Reliability of Some Selected Novel Markers in Detecting Early Renal Dysfunction in HIV Positive Patients on TDF Regimen: A Nigerian Study (Published)
This study evaluated the predictability of novel biomarkers (Urine Cystatin C, NGAL and Albumin) in detecting early renal dysfunction. About 140 patients (53 (37.9 %) male and 87 (62.1%) female) who attends ARV clinic at the University’s Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt were included in the study. The study was designed in 3 phase to include Visit 0, 1 and 2 which lasted for about 12weeks (3months). Visit 1 was 4weeks from visit 0 and Visit 2 was 8 weeks from Visit 1. Laboratory assessment was carried out on samples collected from the patients, Albumin was 0.90±0.56, 1.36±0.89, and 1.36±0.94; Urine Creatinine was 479±1.90, 489.06±445.09 and 514.85±595.55; Urine Total Protein was 15.04±26.73 9.50±5.07 and 6.53±3.84; while NGAL was, 1902.51±902.59, 1941.48±743.60 and 4881.60±2792.01and Cystatin C was 889.70±1201.04, 1062.38±1165.38 and 1577.92±506.61 for Visit 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Significant difference was observed in the measured parameters across all Visits from 1st visit to end of the study. The differences observed between the markers across all visits were significant. Using differential reliability test, NGAL has 241.67% better chance of predicting renal dysfunction compared to Cystatin C, while Cystatin C has 166.67% better chance of predicting renal dysfunction compared to albumin, while NGAL also has 811.1% better chance of predicting renal impairment as compared to albumin. However, creatinine clearance did not pick up renal dysfunction. This study is therefore recommended to Physicians in other to help in diagnosing early renal dysfunction in HIV patients, especially those on tenofovir (TDF) based ARV regime which has been proven to cause renal dysfunction.
Keywords: Biomarkers, Cystatin C and Albumin, HIV, NGAL, Tenofovir