Determinants of Diarrheal Disease among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS Attending ART Clinics in Jimma Town, South-Western Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is among the leading causes of infectious diseases morbidity and mortality worldwide. A common manifestation of enteric involvement of HIV is diarrhea. Diarrhea affects approximately 90% of patients with AIDS in developing countries and 30-60% of AIDS patients in developed countries. The purpose of the study is to identify potential factors associated with occurrence of diarrheal diseases among adult peoples living with HIV who are currently attending ART clinics in Jimma town. Methods: Institutional based unmatched case control study was conducted in Jimma town. A 95% confidence interval is desired with 80% statistical power and 1:1 ratio of controls to cases. Samples were taken consecutively and data were collected using a interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was done to identify candidates for multivariate analysis and multivariate analysis was done to identify potential risk factors of diarrheal diseases among adult peoples living with HIV/AIDS. Results: Male sex (AOR=2.276; 95% CI:1.079, 4.800), public water point (AOR=4.972; 95% CI: 2.408, 10.266), absence of squat hole cover (AOR=2.763; 95% CI: 1.276, 5.980), waste disposal in garbage container (AOR=7.676; 95% CI: 1.776, 33.188), pets/animals in the house (AOR=2.260; 95% CI: 1.153, 4.427), not having refrigerator (AOR=3.343; 95% CI: 1.274, 8.774), previous GIT disorder (AOR=4.254; 95% CI: 1.647, 10.987) and history of diarrhea (AOR=3.966; 95% CI: 1.896, 8.295) were potential risk factors of diarrheal diseases. Conclusions: Diarrheal disease were associated with gender, environmental and clinical factors such as public water point, non-use of latrine covers, presence of pets in the house, solid waste disposal in garbage container, absence of refrigerator, history of clinically diagnosed GIT disorder and previous history of diarrhea which suggested that hygiene and sanitation should be the core of basic preventive care package to prevent diarrheal disease.