Publication:

Evaluative study on the use of post exposure prophylaxis (pep) in igegania sub-county hospital to prevent hiv infection

Post-exposure prophylaxis drugs are used within 72 hours after occupational and non-occupational exposure to prevent hiv infection. Health care providers should evaluate persons rapidly for pep drugs when care is sought≤72 hours after a potential non –occupation exposure that presents substantial risk for hiv infection. Persons to be considered for pep should have their hiv status tested using a rapid combined ag/ab or anti-body blood test. Course of three anti-retroviral drugs regimen are provided which includes tdf/3tc+lpv/r or tdf/3tc+atv/r. The objective of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the pep drugs, to ascertain the people who are eligible for pep drugs, to indicate the age category which abuses post exposure prophylaxis drugs. Data was obtained from record for representing age category of people who abuses pep drugs and the questionnaire were administered to the health workers who have ever used pep drugs to indicate the side effects they experience and those who issue pep drugs also provide information regarding the patient they issue with pep drugs. The study shows that the youth are the mostly people who abuses pep drugs. Patients ranging from 41-50 years of age represent the lowest percentage. It shows that there was rising cases of unprotected sex which leads to highest percentage of pep usage (68.18%), rape (4.54%), needle stick injuries (22.72%) and human bite (4.54%). The study also shows there is effectiveness of pep drugs among the patients who revisit the health facility for baseline testing. Side effects reported when the study was being conducted include jaundice which was shown by almost all patients, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and flatulence. From the study it was concluded that jaundice mostly occurs due to atv/r, youth being the mostly people who abuses pep drugs and patients are being encouraged to take pep drug with food to avoid some of the side effects. For effectiveness the patients are supposed to be initiated with starter pack for 3-7 days and after completion of the dosage, patients should follow up for retesting. Pep drugs are not issued to patients who engages in occupational exposure and non- occupational exposure > 72 hours and those who are not in haart drugs. For improvement of effectiveness health care providers were supposed to remain updated on the current guidelines of pep drugs to prevent resistance. Counseling sessions should also be provided to people receiving pep drugs to enable them to be aware of the side effects for completion of dosage. Pep drugs should be provided to partner in which one of the couple is hv positive and the other one is hiv negative.