Findings from University of the West of England advance knowledge in HIV/AIDS co-infection
2008 JAN 21 -- According to recent research from Bristol, the United Kingdom, "The prevalence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV and hepatitis B in the UK asylum seeker and refugee population is currently uncertain. Systematic review of published and unpublished studies." "Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies reported the prevalence of TB with rates ranging from 1.33 to 10.42 per 1000. The three studies reporting hepatitis B estimated rates from 57 to 118 per 1000. One study reported a prevalence rate for HIV of 38.19 per 1000. A small number of studies have been identified reporting prevalence rates for TB, hepatitis B and HIV that vary widely where comparisons are available. These differences may reflect true variation in risk between study populations, but are likely to be affected by sampling difficulties encountered when researching these population groups," wrote R.C. Clark and colleagues, University of the West of England. The researchers concluded: "Efforts are required to improve these difficulties which are currently limiting the validity of prevalence findings and generalizability to comparable asylum seeker and refugee populations." Clark and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Public Health (Estimating infectious disease in UK asylum seekers and refugees: a systematic review of prevalence studies. Journal of Public Health, 2007;29(4):420-428). For additional information, contact R.C. Clark, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1DD, Avon, UK. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Public Health is: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England. Keywords: United Kingdom, Bristol, HIV/AIDS Co-Infection, AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Gastroenterology, HBV, HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatology, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Bacterial Infection, Infectious Disease, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Public Health, Virology, University of the West of England. This article was prepared by Tuberculosis Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Tuberculosis Week via NewsRx.com.
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