Pre-Disposing Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPI) among the HIV/AIDS Patients in Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

The role of HIV infection on the pathognomomic of HIV infections is not clearly understood. The aim of the current study was to determine the epidemiology of IPI and predisposing factors among HIV/AIDS patients in Bungoma County Hospital. This study was a cross-sectional study on 240 HIV(+ve) and 60 HIV(-ve) individuals. Stool samples were observed for intestinal parasites. Differences in prevalence and intensity of parasites were analyzed using Pearson Chi-square test. Factors causing observed differences in the prevalence and intensity of the parasites were analyzed using Chi-square test to identify significant factors responsible for observed prevalence. Significantly (χ2 = 23.764, df = 1, p = 0.002) higher prevalence of IPI occurred among HIV/AIDS patients (33.4%) compared to in HIV-ve patients (19.3%). Protozoan and helminthic parasites were the main parasites identified. Age, levels of education, income levels, smoking and drinking habits as well as dietary habits contributed significantly (p < 0.05 to increased prevalence of Intestinal parasitic infection among the HIV/AIDS patients. The study demonstrate that infection with HIV exacerbate intestinal parasitic infections (IPI). It is recommended that routine examination of stool samples for parasites would significantly benefit HIV infected and uninfected individuals by contributing to reduce morbidity