Hiv associated Kaposi's Sarcoma: Ethnic diffrences among hiv assosiated ks patients at Kenyatta National Hospital
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Date
2013Author
Mungai, John Njenga
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A study on HIV Associated Kaposi's sarcoma: Ethnic Differences among HIV associated KS
patients at Kenyatta National Hospital
BACKGROUND
HIV associated Kaposi's sarcoma is common Malignancy that clinicians have to deal with
frequently at KNH, both in the outpatient and inpatient set-up. The demographic background
of patients with HIV associated KS attending KNH is not well documented This study aimed
to determine the patients' characteristics including age, sex, ethnic / racial background,
education level as well as the districts of residence during the first 10 years of life, then 10-20
years and subsequent years.
METHODS
This was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study carried out between May2004 and
May 2005. The demographic data was obtained through face to face interviews by the
principal investigator. Thorough physical examinations followed For patients meeting the
inclusion criteria, pre-test counselling for HIV testing and biopsy of KS lesion was done .
.2mls of venous blood was drawn and forwarded for ELISA testing for HIV infections status
using the Enzygnost kit. A biopsy or the suspected KS lesion was done under local
anaesthesia for histological confirmation by apathologist. Post-test counselling was then
done before disclosing the test results to the patients, who were then referredfor further
specialized care.
RESULTS
90 patients were recruitedfor data analysis. Age information for one patient was not
available while three did not give their education achievements. The males constituted 56%
and female 44% 41 (46.1%) of the patients 'vvereaged 30-39 years, 28(31.5%) aged 40-49
years, 13(14. 6%) were aged 25-29 years while only 3(3.4%) were below 25 years. 4(4.5%)
were over 50 years old 23%,45% and 19% had achieved primary, secondary and college
level education respectively. The kikuyu ethnic group formed 36.7% followed by the Luo
(27.8%) Kamba (15.6%) and the Luhya (8.9%). The rest of the Kenya ethnic groups formed
less than or equal to 3% each.. 4 districts (Nairobi 13%, Nyeri 11.1%, Siaya 10% and
Machakos 6.7%) hosted the patients in theirfirst 2 decades of life but thereafter majority of
patients were found to reside in Nairobi district (56.7%). .
CONCLUSION
There were no significant ethnic differences among patients with HIV associated KS at
Kenyatta National Hospital
RECOMMEDATIONS
Future research should focus on factors contributing to the incidences of KS in both HIV
positive and HIV negative Patients including any regional specific factors like prevalence of
KSH
Citation
A dissertation submitted in part fullfilment of the requirement for the award of masters of medicine of the University of NairobiPublisher
Medicine, University of Nairobi