Opportunistic Intestinal Protozoan Infection Among HIV/AIDS Patients and the Associated Risk Factors in Jalingo Local Government, Taraba State

Abstract

Opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasites are the major contributors affecting HIV/AIDS patients. This study determined the association between intestinal protozoan infection and some predisposing factors among HIV/AIDS patients. Samples were collected from both male and female HIV/AIDS patients and stool samples were also collected from non-HIV/AIDS patients to serve as control. The procedure of wet mount technique and faecal concentration methods processed the faecal materials collected. The CD⁴⁺ count of patients were determined using the Partee Cyflow Counter, which determines the percentage of CD⁴⁺ cells of individuals. A total of eight hundred and fifty (850) faecal samples were collected from sero-positive and sero-negative HIV/AIDS persons in Jalingo metropolis. Out of the 850 subjects, 650 (76.47%) were sero-positive while 200 (23.53%) were sero-negative (Control). The sero-positive subjects showed higher prevalence of 118 (18.15%) of opportunistic parasitic infection according to the follow-up of hospital locations: Government House, 12 (25.71%); Ummah Clinic, 8 (21.82%); Taraba State Specialist Hospital, 50 (18.18%) and Federal Medical Centre, 38 (15.20%). The prevalence was higher among female positives, 68 (l9.60%) than the male, 50 (16.50%) with no significant difference (p>0.05). The infection based on age groups revealed that the age group 10-15 years had the highest prevalence of 27 (48.21%) while the age group 41-45 years had the least prevalence of 2 (2.63%). There was no significant relationship between age, gender and occurrence of opportunistic intestinal protozoan infection among HIV sero-positive and HIV sero-negative subjects (p>0.05). Analysis on risk factors associated with intestinal protozoan infection revealed that patients whose source of water was from stream are likely to get infected with intestinal protozoans (OR=2.95) than those who used tap water (OR=0.78). Based on method of waste disposal, those who practiced open defaecation are at higher risk of infection with intestinal protozoa (OR=1.02) than those who used water closet system (OR=0.30). Similarly, those who did not wash hands after toilets are prone to infection (OR=2.46) than those who frequently was their hands after toilets (OR=0.14). The public health division in Jalingo metropolis should continue to emphasize the importance of environmental and personal hygiene and collaborate with other Government agencies to provide quality drinking water, good waste management systems, good/faecal disposal systems amongst others to help alleviate the burden of intestinal parasite infections.