SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES OF CANCER AND HIV CASES SEEN AT HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN KISUMU COUNTY KENYA

Abstract

Background: Improved understanding of the social and demographics of
persons living with Human Immune deficiency Virus Infection informs health systems planning and policy enhancements at any level of health care delivery. It is against this background that persons with both HIV and cancer are studied in a health care providing facility in Kisumu county Kenya.
Objective: To describe a profile of the; socio-demographic characteristics of persons living with HIV infection who also have cancer.
Study design: Cross-sectional retrospective review of case records between
January 2019 and December 2021. Study site and population: Oncology unit at a Referral Hospital, Kisumu County, Kenya Materials and Method: Case records of patients treated at the facility were retrieved and perused through for desired data and information. Cases that fulfilled study entry criteria were evaluated. Data was entered in a proforma questionnaire. The required were having confirmed cancer and in addition a determined HIV status. Other data required were; age, gender, level of formal education, and health systems support HIV status and type of cancer. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out.
Results: Those assessed were 379, and the findings showed: age; range, mean age of 57.2 years (SD = 15.2), with a significant difference in age between HIV-positive (mean 50.3 years) and HIV-negative (mean 62.5 years) groups (p=0.0001). Female constituted 68.9% (261), of whom the HIV-positive 79.5% (120) and HIV-negative 60.1% (122), p<0.0001. Among the 39.8% (151) HIVpositive the average time since diagnosis was 13.2 years (SD = 5.3), with 96% (145) on Antiretroviral therapy (ART). Types of cancers including; breast, gastric, colon, esophageal, pancreatic and prostate were recorded. Furthermore  the cancers were classified as either non-AIDS-defining or AIDS defining. Staging recorded advanced cancer with 39.3% (149) stage 3, 26.1% (99) stage 4, and 24.3% (92) had metastasis. Tobacco use was documented in 0.5%, with no
significant difference between groups (p=0.608). Alcohol consumption was
reported in 10.8% (41), with no significant difference (p=0.406). However, their identification provided an understanding of cancer burden within the patient population, independent of HIV status.
Conclusion: The study observed a distinct socio-demographic difference
between HIV- negative and HIV-positive patients, a higher burden of disease among older, predominantly female populations, and predominance of non- AIDS-defining cancers. The study recommends an enhancement of integrated cancer screening in HIV care among women to reduce the rising burden of cancer in both HIV positive and HIV-negative groups.