Evaluation of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in a tertiary health institution in south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) guidelines and determine its clinical outcome in a PEPFAR (APIN-CDC) Clinic in south-eastern Nigeria from 2008 to 2012. It was a retrospective review of data of patients who accessed HIV PEP services from the clinic. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were retrieved from the database of the clinic and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were applied to analyzed data at significance level of p<0.05. The result showed that thirty three (33) individuals were enrolled into PEP during the period. Thirty-one (31; 93.94%) were due to occupational exposure, while two (2; 6.06%) were due to non-occupational exposure. AZT+3TC 23 (69.70%), AZT+3TC+LPV/r 9 (27.27%) and AZT+3TC+ATV/r+RTV 1 (3.03%) were the ARVs used. The nature of exposure did not significantly determine the choice of the ARV. The study concludes that APIN/CDC Clinic, UNTH Enugu substantially followed recommendations of standard guidelines in HIV PEP management, but the absence of followup test results for majority of the enrollees was an impediment to any general statement on its clinical outcome.