HIV / AIDS

EXPERIENCE AT TWO TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF PESHAWAR.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the experience of physicians posted in two
tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar regarding HIV/AIDS. Design: Descriptive observational study. Settings: Khyber
Teaching Hospital (KHT) and Postgraduate Medical Institute Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar (PGMI, HMC).
Duration: From 12 September to 21st th December 2005. Material and Methods: A total of 50 clinical experts were
selected, 35 from KHT and 15 from HMC. Medical specialists, Pathologists, gynecologists and dermatologists were
included. A questionnaire was designed in accordance with the objectives of the study. Questionnaire contained
information’s about, 1) The experience of physicians posted in these centers regarding HIV/AIDS management and
on. 2) Clinico-pathological aspects, risk behaviors, preventive and precautionary measures, diagnosis and treatment
of the HIV/AIDS. Results: A total of 50 health staff including physicians, pathologists, gynecologists and dermatologists
were selected. Only 2% of physicians were claiming themselves volunteers for management of HIV cases. Main referral
center for treatment and diagnosis was National Institute of Health (NIH) for 72% of physicians. Of total, 74% of
physicians had recorded only 0-5 cases during their carrier. No outreach counseling or advertising VCT recorded.
Opportunistic infections recorded by physicians were: Tuberculosis (18%), Oral/esophageal candidiasis(14%), STIs(6%)
,Herpes simplex, CMV Infection & Pneumocystic cranii( 4% each) and septicemia (2%). Malignancies recorded were:
Kaposi,s sarcoma (6%) and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (2%). Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of the medical
staff was satisfactory but majority of the physician had recorded negligible HIV/AIDS cases. There is need for more
awareness through advertisement, workshops and seminars on HIV/AIDS.