Intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients at Gulu regional referral hospital art clinic, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections create a huge concern in the management and care of HIV positive people in Uganda. Understanding the prevalence and associated factors is vital for proper planning and patient management. To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, a cross-sectional study was carried out. Three hundred twenty-nine participants were recruited using simple random sampling technique on consenting. Stool specimens were examined microscopically and macroscopically for intestinal parasites. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for demographic data collection and analysis was done using STATA software version 14.0. Prevalence of intestinal parasites was 25.8%; Isolated parasite species were Entamoeba histolytic, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepsis nana, Schistosoma Mansoni, Strongyloides stercolaris and hookworm. History of abdominal pain (AOR= 12.12, 95% CI: 11.01-14.10, p-value ˂0.001), diarrhea (AOR= 11.1, 95% CI: 11.03-13.16, p-value 0.003), water source (AOR= 3.12, 95% CI: 2.914.31, p-value 0.02), and high viral load results (AOR= 2.9, 95% CI: 1.98-3.11, p-value 0.001) were associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Intestinal parasitic infections remain a health challenge among HIV/AIDs patients in the study area; Entamoeba histolytic, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum being common intestinal parasites. History of diarrhea, abdominal pains, high viral load, unreliable safe water sources were associated with diarrhea in HIV/AIDS positive people in the study area. There is a need for health sensitization with emphasize on the importance of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene and enhancement of the prevailing opportunistic infection control interventions among HIV/AIDS positive people on Antiretroviral treatment (ART). Routine deworming and stool examination should be done during follow-up visits.