Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Evaluation of HIV Status and its Spread in HIV Patients on Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) and their Spouses

Abstract

Aditya Agarwal, Agarwal DK, Rao RR and Nalin Nag

Background and methods: We studied the HIV status of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) and their spouses via a questionnaire. We selected 24 HIV positive patients who were either on maintenance hemodialysis (n=14) or renal allograft recipients (n=10). Patient's spouses (20) were also included. Results: Out of the 24 patients 21 were male (85.5%) and 3 females (14.5%). Only 20 patients had living spouses. Regarding probable source of infection; 20 (83.3%) patients pointed towards multiple sexual contacts, while 1 each (4.2%) stated blood transfusion and multiple needle pricks as the cause, while 2 were unsure of any cause (8.4%). Out of 20 spouses, 18 were sexually active of which 8 (44.4%) were found to be HIV Positive and all answered that they contracted the infection through sexual contact with their spouses. Among the 18 sexually active couples, 12 were using condoms, while 6 who were not using condoms were found to be HIV positive. Out of 8 HIV positive spouses, 2 were infected despite of using condoms. 15 patients out of 24 were chronic alcoholics (62.5%). Out of 44 subjects (24 patients and 20 spouses) 40 opined that social worker counselling was the most effective way of preventing spread (90.9%) followed by increasing awareness through media (n=36, 81.8%) while 30 subjects (68.2%) stated that an addition to school curriculum would be helpful in preventing its spread whereas 28 (63.6%) thought that counselling by the family physician could help in preventing the spread of the infection. Conclusion: This study concludes that people with multiple sexual contacts, intravenous drug abusers and spouses of infected patients are at high risk of contracting HIV infection. Barrier contraception, though extremely effective, is not a full proof method of protection from the spread of HIV infection. Social workers have tremendous impact in increasing awareness of HIV and restricting its spread along with media, educational curriculum and physician counselling.