Abstract

AETIOLOGIES, AGE AND GENDER VARIATIONS AMONG THE HIV/ AIDS CASES AT AIDS CARE CENTRES IN DIFFERENT HOSPITALS IN KHARTOUM STATE

Tarig Mohamed Hassan* and Randa Almahdi

Abstract

Background: Many official reports about HIV infection in Sudan are alarming because of the increasing incidence and prevalence of HIV/ AIDS in the country. HIV/ AIDS issue is complicated with the social stigma and the lag time between contracting the infection and appearance of symptoms and signs are factors that complicate early seek of help for victims. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted to study etiologies and check age/gender variations among HIV/AIDS cases at different hospitals in Khartoum State. Method: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was done on 600 HIV/AIDS patients who were attended during the period from May to July 2016 at the selected AIDS care centres in Khartoum state, Bashayer, Omdurman and Khartoum hospital in Khartoum State. The survey was intended to compare age, gender, aetiologies among patients. Data was collected through a structured data collection. Data were collected from each patient's medical record and missed information was gained from healthcare providers and then analysed using SPSS. Results: The findings of this study found that males (54.7%) with HIV/ AIDS were slightly more than females (45.3). Most patients (69.3%) were from age ranges of 21- 40 the ages of increased sexual activities. More than one-half of the patients infected through sexual activities. High educational levels were found to have improved behaviour of individuals towards HIV detection, secured sex. Conclusion: HIV/ AIDS cases are increasing in Sudan, and there was an alarming dominance of females over males in the age range of 21-30years which needs to be investigated more. Sexual activities were the most common mode of transmission like what is known about developing countries. The educational level was the single most crucial factor that influences the populations’ behaviour, so our primary and secondary education needs to be modified to increase awareness about health issues.

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