Association between Gender Differences and Cd4 immunological Failure Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Naïve Patients On Antiretroviral Therapy At Itezhi-Tezhi District Hospital (original) (raw)

Objectives: To describe CD4 immunological failure in male and female HIV treatment naïve patients on HAART at Itezh-itezhi District Hospital. To achieve this objective the study was aimed at identifying and comparing CD4 immunological failure between male and female HIV treatment naïve patients on antiretroviral therapy. Study Method: A descriptive cross-section study was employed to collect secondary data from patient files. Data collected was serum CD4 cell count at baseline of ART enrolment and Six (6) months of treatment. The unit analysis was adult treatment naïve patients at least six months on antiretroviral therapy at Itezhi-tezhi District Hospital in Central Province of Zambia. A probability Simple random method of sampling was used to pick files of participants. The files were first entered on excel spreadsheet, allocated a random number and randomized. Thereafter,thefirst246files will be selected and used in this study. Results: As of June 2015, the cumulative ever on ART at Itezhi-tezhi district was 4073 and out of this figure 1465 (36%) had died, migrated or lost to follow. Currently, there were only 2508 on ART and out of this figure a higher population was that of the adult female. Using the Pearson Chi-square test, it was found that those gender differences were significantly associated with CD4 immunological failure and men were more vulnerable. Conclusion; Men on ART were found to have a higher prevalence of CD4 immunological failure compared to women, regardless of their baseline, Age, weight and CD4 count. However, additional studies are needed to confirm men`s susceptibility to treatment failure by incorporating virological and clinical monitoring in these studies.