Perfil clínico e epidemiológico e prevalência da coinfec？？o tuberculose/HIV em uma regional de saúde no Maranh？o

objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile, as well as the prevalence, of tuberculosis/hiv co-infection in the regional health district of tocantins, which serves 14 cities in the state of maranh？o, brazil. methods: this was a descriptive epidemiological study based on secondary data obtained from individual tuberculosis reporting forms in the brazilian case registry database. we included all reported cases of tuberculosis/hiv co-infection, by city, between january of 2001 and december of 2010. results: in the district, 1,746 cases of tuberculosis were reported. of those tested for hiv, 100 had positive results, which corresponded to a tuberculosis/hiv co-infection prevalence of 39%. of the co-infected patients, 79% were male, 42% were mulatto, and 64% were in the 20- to 40-year age bracket, 31% had had < 4 years of schooling, and 88% resided in the city of imperatriz. cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and new cases of tuberculosis predominated (in 87% and 73%, respectively). of the co-infected patients, 27% had positive sputum smear microscopy results, and 89% had chest x-ray findings suggestive of tuberculosis. sputum culture was performed in only 7% of the cases. conclusions: our results show that, because of its clinical and epidemiological profile, tuberculosis/hiv co-infection is still a major public health problem in the southwestern region of maranh？o. this situation calls for better coordination between tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease/aids control programs, as well as a political commitment and greater involvement on the part of administrators and health care professionals in the planning of interventions and the functioning of health care facilities.