Abstract:
Background: People living with HIV are more susceptible for TB infection because HIV
weakens the immune system. TB is the leading cause of death for those infected with HIV and
is implicated in up to one-half of all AIDS deaths. Uptake of lsoniazid Prevention Therapy
among people living with HIV is a proven, internationally recommended strategy to reduce TB
burden among people live with HIV that has been effectively implemented in low resource
settings. Despite the considerable benefits of implementing lsoniazid Prevention Therapy to
reduce TB among people live with HIV, HIV programs have been slow to implement this TB reducing service. Particularly in this study area there is no research based information about
knowledge and uptake of lsoniazid Prevention Therapy among people living with HIV.
Objective: This study designed to assess knowledge and uptake of lsoniazid Preventive
Therapy and associated factors among people living with HIV in Bahir Dar town.
Methods: Institution based Cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March
2014 in Bahir Dar public health facilities. A 383 people live with HIV at four public health
institutions that started ART services was selected by systematic random sampling. The study
was conducted from February to March 2014. The findings were analyzed using SPSS version
20.
Results: Among people live with HIV 62.1 % had insufficient level of knowledge about
lsoniazid Prevention Therapy. The proportion of people live with HIV who had uptake of IPT was
30.5%. Uptake of lsoniazid Prevention Therapy was statistically associated with sex of study
participants [AOR=2.45, 95% Cl: 1.42, 4.25], duration on HAART [AOR=2.45 95% Cl: 1.29,
4.63], explanation given by health professionals about benefit of lsoniazid Prevention Therapy
[AOR=5.51, 95% Cl: 3.28, 9.27] and educational status (primary, secondary and postsecondary [AOR=3.87, 95% Cl: 1.47, 10.12], [AOR=5.77, 95% Cl: 2.50, 13.30] and [AOR=6.45,
95% Cl: 2.45, 15.79] respectively)
Conclusion: This study revealed that high number of study participants had insufficient level
of knowledge about lsoniazid Prevention Therapy and low uptake of lsoniazid Prevention
Therapy in the town. The finding suggests that the need to strengthen and integrate lsoniazid
Prevention Therapy service with ART services. And there is need of promotion on uptake of
lsoniazid Prevention Therapy in public health facilities.