Prevalence of HIV-tuberculosis coinfection at the University Hospital of Tulear, Madagascar.

Screening for HIV is recommended for all TB patients but it has not yet been initiated in some regions of Madagascar. In this study, our main objective was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV infection in TB patients and secondarily to determine the risk factors favoring TB infection in these patients. This prospective cross-sectional study took place in the pneumology department of the University Hospital of Tulear from January to April, 2017. We diagnosed 75 patients with tuberculosis, 96.05% of them new cases. The sex-ratio was 1.81. Patients' mean age was 35 years. Two patients (2.66%) were coinfected with HIV. Among the new cases diagnosed, 62.66% had pulmonary tuberculosis with positive microscopy (TPM +). Two patients reported a person with tuberculosis among their family or close friends. Living with someone in poor hygiene conditions was reported by 82.66% of the cases. Overall, 24% were unemployed. These patients had quite varied ethnic origins. The prevalence of HIV infection in TB patients was higher than in the general population. Low income and low educational levels were the main risk factors for TB infection in Madagascar.