Baseline evaluation of routine HIV testing among tuberculosis patients in Botswana.
In January 2004, the government of Botswana introduced a policy of routine, non-compulsory human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to increase testing and access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for individuals presenting for medical treatment. Before a systematic implementation of the policy, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of tuberculosis (TB) record data from 46 clinics in 10 districts to assess baseline HIV testing rates among TB patients. Recorded HIV results from the facility TB register and TB treatment card were reviewed. Of the 1242 TB patients entered in the register, 47% had a recorded HIV result and 84% of these were co-infected with HIV. TB treatment cards were available for 862 (69%) registered patients. Among the 411 (47%) with test results recorded on the treatment card, 341 (83%) were HIV-infected; of these, 12% were reported to be receiving ART.
Gammino
V M
VM
Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. VMG0@cdc.gov
Mboya
J J
JJ
Samandari
T
T
Sheth
A
A
Almquist
J
J
Nkubito
G
G
Jimbo
W
W
Obita
G
G
Roels
T H
TH
Wells
C D
CD
Kilmarx
P H
PH
Nelson
L J
LJ
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications*; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents