Abstract:
Background: Proper adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) may depend upon the results of tuberculosis
(TB) screening test and patients’ understanding of their risk of developing active TB. We conducted a study to
assess the acceptability, adherence and completion profile of IPT among HIV-infected patients who were clinically
screened for latent TB Infection (LTBI).
Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between February 2012
and March 2014. HIV-infected patients 10 years or older were clinically screened using a validated symptom-based
screening tool to rule out active TB. Patients found to have no symptoms in the screening tool were given 300 mg
of isoniazid (INH) daily for 6 months. Patients were followed up monthly at the National and Municipal hospital HIV
clinics for INH refill and assessment of treatment adherence. Adherence was defined as consumption of 90 % or
more of the monthly prescription of INH.
Results: All 1303 invited patients agreed to participate in the study. Of 1303 invited HIV-infected patients, 1283
(98.5 %) were recruited into the study. Twenty eight (2.2 %) did not complete treatment. Those who did not
complete the treatment were exclusively adults aged 18 years or older, p = 0.302. The overall mean (±SD) adherence
was 98.9 % (±2.9). Adherence level among children aged <18 years (92.2 %) was significantly lower than adherence
level among patients aged 18–29 years (98.3 %), 30–49 years (98.8 %) and ≥ 50 years (98.5), p-value = 0.011. Sex,
occupation, socio-economic status, duration of HIV infection, being on antiretroviral drugs (ARV) and duration of
ARV use were not associated with adherence.
Conclusion: IPT is highly accepted by HIV infected patients. Patients demonstrated high level of adherence to
IPT. The level of adherence among children was slightly lower than that among adults. IPT non-completers were
exclusively adults. Children might need adult supervision in taking IPT.
