A Study of HIV Disease Course Among Rural Women Receiving ART

Introduction: The present study is an attempt to evaluate and document HIV incidence and progression among women in and around Srikakulam, a remote town in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh. The results throw light on a greater effort required to be mobilized towards preventive and therapeutic care in women in rural areas. Material & Methods: This is a retrospective study, using the data collected from ICTC (from April 2007 to March 2011) and ART center (from April 2007 to February 2010) of RIMS General Hospital, Srikakulam. The study is focused on the development of CD4 counts at regular intervals among women on ART. Opportunistic infections, deaths, transfers and the profiles of CD4 counts have also been analyzed. Results: There is a+ significant percentage of responsiveness to therapy in the younger age group. Tuberculosis is significant in being the commonest opportunistic infection causing death with a percentage of 16.4. Maximum number of deaths (27.8 %) were associated with CD4 counts as low as 0 – 50 per cu mm, and there is a decrease in the percentages of deaths at higher range of CD4 counts. As a baseline parameter, the CD4 counts of 50 HIV seronegative women between the ages of 15-45 years are estimated. The average is 972 cells /cumm. Conclusion: In spite of an overall decrease in the severity of the epidemic, the problem persists among women in the rural set up. The present study throws light on the need of special programmes which focus on early detection, early initiation of ART, counseling regarding barrier methods applicable to females and monitoring therapy in women