Pattern and Rate of Occupational and Non- Occupational Exposures: The Experience of a Major HIV Treatment Centre in Nigeria

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the nature of exposure, treatment outcome, time of presentation for treatment, assess adherence to follow up visits as well as identify gaps in post exposure prophylaxis treatment practice in the clinic.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Place and duration of Study: The HIV treatment centre domiciled at the Clinical Sciences Department of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Yaba, Lagos Nigeria from January 2006 to October 2015.

Methodology: A database retrospective review was conducted for adult patients who received post exposure prophylaxis for HIV during the study period. A total of 348 patients received treatment for post exposure prophylaxis but only 314 had complete data and were analyzed. Patient information was extracted from the electronic database and patient case files. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics.

Results: Majority of the patients were females (73.6%), aged 31-45years (47.8%), single (62.1%) had a tertiary education (67.2%) and employed (70.7%).

More than half (65.6%) had non-occupational exposures and overall, 98% presented for treatment within 72hours of exposure but only 2% completed the follow up visits.

Conclusion: Treatment outcome appears good among patients that presented for follow up visits and no sero-conversion was reported or recorded. The completion rate for post exposure prophylaxis was abysmally low. Strategies should be devised to encourage completion of follow up visits.