Prevalence of HIV and malaria coinfection among HIV and AIDS patients admitted to medical wards at Amana municip al hospital, Ilala district, Dar es Salaam

Abstract

Background: HIV and AIDS pandemic has been superimposed on the long standing malaria pandemic, where P. falciparum malaria is consistently one of the major causes of death. The high prevalence of both HIV and malaria infection in Tanzania means that even small interactions between the two could have substantial effects on populations. Ohjcctivc: To determine the prevalence of HIV and Malaria eo-infection among HIV and AIDS patients admitted to medical wards at Amana, Municipal hospital, Ilala, Dar es salaam. Study design and setting: A cross-sectional study conducted at Amana hospital, Ilala, in Dar es salaam, between August 2009 and December 2009. Methodology: A standard data collecting forms were used to collect demographic and examination findings from the patients. Laboratory findings were entered into the laboratory data collecting sheet. Results: A total of 180 HIV and AIDS patients, 68% females and 32% males were recruited into the study. The prevalence of HIV and malaria eo-infection was found to be 25.6%.The majority of the patients were in the sexually active age group (15 - 49) years. Prevalence of HIV and malaria eo-infection was high among patients with lower CD4+ T-cell counts. Vlll

Among patients with HIV and malaria eo-infection 53% of females and 20% of males were married. More than 80% of patients with HIV and malaria eo-infection had malaria parasite density between 1 and 500 per 200wbcs. No significant difference was seen in Anaemia by WHO grading classification between the two group of HIV without malaria infection and HIV with malaria eo-infection.

• On duration of hospital stay, 46% of HIV and malaria eo -infection stayed longer in the hospital than the 25% of HIV without malaria infection. p= 0.001.

Among HIV patients with malaria eo-infection, those with higher mean CD4+ T- cell counts of 372 cells/ul stayed in the hospital less than 5 days compared to those with low mean CD4+ T- cell counts of 207cells/ul. Similarly, to those with low mean malarial parasites of 190 per 200wbcs had a shorter hospital stay (less than 5 days) while those with high mean malarial parasites of 246 stayed in the hospital for more than 5 days.

Conclusion and Recommendation:

HIV and malaria eo-infection is common and occurs mostly in HIV and AIDS patients with low CD4+- T cell counts. Fever was a common symptom. (It was associated with long hospital stay and death). There is a need for collaboration between malaria and HIV programmes to spear head for the HIV patients to be screened for malaria infection.