HIV transmission rate low in TB patients: Study
None of the HIV positive cases had any history of blood transfusion, it added.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission rate among tuberculosis patients in Bangladesh was 0.1 %, according to a study done by the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM).
The survey report for 'HIV transmission rate among Tuberculosis (TB) patients 2019-20' was published on Monday. The survey was of 12,000 TB patients.
"Most TB patients who have very little by way of primary education and awareness are the ones infected by HIV," said Dr Baizid Khoorshid Riaz, director of NIPSOM at its office in the capital's Mohakhali.
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No HIV prevalence was found in TB-infected third gender people, the survey also found.
The rate of HIV prevalence was 0.2% for people between the ages of 35 and 44. Lung TB transmission rate was 0.1% and besides the lungs, it was 0.07%, the study also reported.
Among professionals, the rate was 0.5% for transport workers and 0.3% for day labourers.
Four TB-infected housewives also showed up positive for HIV. Only 4.5% of TB patients went through Covid-19 testing and 4.2% of them came back positive.
None of the HIV positive cases had any history of blood transfusions.
"Education increases awareness of these diseases. Diseases can be cured but prevention must be targeted," said Dr ABM Khurshid Alam, director general of Directorate General of Health Services and also chief guest of the programme.
"Awareness of TB and HIV should be increased among people. The partners of those four housewives should have been tested," he added.
