title: Operational research on the correlation between skin diseases and HIV infection in Tigray region, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Ethiopia, skin diseases are among the leading causes of outpatient attendance to primary health service. Correlation of skin diseases and HIV has long been recognized and used to guide medical management in resource-limited settings. Therefore, this study aims to assess the correlation of skin diseases and HIV infection, to estimate epidemiological distribution in the study area, and to provide health workers of skin indicators for HIV early detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The operational research was designed as a case-control study and carried out in three intervention districts of Tigray region; baseline and final data on skin diseases and HIV were compared with those of three control districts matched for population size, density, and environmental characteristics. Health workers of intervention districts were trained on skin diseases/STIs diagnosis and treatment. Data were collected from study and control districts and then analyzed at the Italian Dermatological Centre (IDC) in Mekele.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the research period, a total of 1044 HIV positive patients were detected. Disorders of skin and mucous membranes statistically related with HIV (P < 0.05) were tongue papillary atrophy (80%), oral hairy leukoplakia (69%), herpes zoster (66%), oral candidiasis (50%), pruritic papular eruption (43%), condylomata acuminata (38%), and telogen effluvium (27%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high frequency of oral disorders and telogen effluvium is not described in literature and may be indicative for case detection. Operational research offers significant gains on health service delivery and outcomes at relatively low cost and in a short timeframe.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeska
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Padovese
authors.affiliation: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Racalbuto
authors.affiliation: Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekele, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gebre Ab
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Barnabas
authors.affiliation: San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011536:Prurigo / Q000453:epidemiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology