Malaria Parasite and Anaemia Prevalence in Adult HIV-patients Attending Care and Treatment Centre in Baptist Hospital Mutengene, Cameroon

Aim: This study was aimed at investigating malaria parasite and anaemia prevalence, the impact of co-infection on immune-haematological parameters, clinical/treatment profiles and how malaria preventive measure associate with malaria and anaemia in adult HIV-patients attending care and treatment centre in Baptist Hospital Mutengene.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Mutengene from June to August, 2012.

Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record information on demographic factors and use of preventive measures from adult HIV-patients. Venous blood was collected; blood films were prepared and Giemsa-stained for malaria parasite detection. Haemoglobin concentration was determined. A total of 470 adults HIV-patients aged 20 - 68 years were studied.

Results: There was an overall malaria parasite prevalence of 36.38% but there was no significant difference in malaria parasite prevalence between the various categories examined. The overall anaemia prevalence in the study was 24.89% with a significant difference (p=0.02) between males and females. There was a highly significant difference (p<0.001) in anaemia prevalence between different CD4+ levels, WHO clinical stages, fever status, clinical symptoms status, HAART consumption status, NRTIs and NNRTIs classes of HAART. There was however no significant difference in anaemia prevalence between the various malaria preventive measures applied in the study.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that malaria infection in HIV patients can lead to a reduction in CD4+ count and increase anaemia and fever. This can facilitate the HIV-patient’s change from clinical stage 1 to 4 where the patients will find it difficult to manage the disease and stay healthy. HIV-patients need to implement malaria control measures such as use of ITN and keep the environment clean in order to avoid malaria-related morbidity and mortality and improve generally on their health.