Associated Institute for Stop TB (ASSIST)

This initiative strives to realize the goal of eliminating TB as a public health problem in India through its awareness campaigns for early detection and proper treatment of TB and facilitating community-academic partnership.

SAIHP is a partner organization of STOP TB Program ( http://www.stoptb.org) , which comprises a network of international organizations, countries, donors from the public and private sectors, governmental and nongovernmental organizations and individuals working together to achieve a world free of TB.

Recently a "Stop TB" essay competition was organized among the medical students of Orissa, with an aim to create sensitization among the future health care professionals regarding the importance of TB as a community health problem.

Completed Project

Prevention and care of tuberculosis in high HIV/AIDS prevalence area in Southern Orissa, India: challenges and constraints

Principal Investigator : Dr Sanghamitra Pati

HIV/AIDS has begun an alarming spread in India and poses a major public health threat. Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic disease in India among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and is the leading cause of AIDS related mortality. A study was undertaken to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on the perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of various groups of people that may affect TB transmission, prevention and care. The study was conducted in Ganjam district of Orissa (India) with the highest rate of coexisting TB and HIV. It investigated: i. adherence to the Tuberculosis therapy among PLWH ii. Perceptions about TB, HIV and feasibility of implementing directly observed therapy (DOT) iii. Health seeking behavior of HIV-positive TB patients and HIV negative TB patients. Major reasons for non-adherence included migration due to work, denial of HIV status and perceived medicinal side effects. AIDS stigma and misconceptions of TB-associated AIDS caused a delay in seeking TB services and non-adherence to TB treatment who suspected they had AIDS and therefore, feared AIDS detection. The high mortality of TB related complications negatively affected the credibility of the TB treatment and influenced the attitudes of the health staff and the community resulting in perceived low priority or low motivation to treat TB. Despite the enormous clinical and social impact of HIV/AIDS on TB, appropriate psychosocial interventions are needed to improve TB care and prevention. Improved collaboration between TB and HIV/AIDS programs will lead to more effective control of TB among HIV-infected people and to significant public health gains.