PREVALENCE OF OPPORTUNISTIC INTESTINAL PROTOZOAN PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG HIV SERO-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS AT DILCHORA REFERRAL HOSPITAL,DIRE DAWA TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasitic infections (OIPPIs) are major public health problems in developing countries especially among HIV/AIDS patients. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of major opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasitic infections among HIV sero-positive individuals at Dilchora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa Town, Eastern Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from December, 2017-February, 2018. A total of 403 HIV sero-positive individual stool samples and structured questionnaires were collected serially from all in patients and out patients living with HIV/AIDS. Based on their consent the collected stool samples were processed by using the direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl Neelsen methods. Questionnaire survey was used to gather relevant information on socio-demographic and risk factor. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square was used to assess the relationship between OIPPI and exposure with different risk factors at p-value<0.05. The overall prevalence of OIPPIs in the study area was 12.9%. Major OIPP species identified were Cryptosporidium parvum 10.4% and Isospor belli 2.5% and other non-opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasites were Giardia lamblia 5.5% and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 8.9%. Among clinical manifestations observed in the study participants, significant association was observed with vomiting, flatulence, dysentery with diarrheal conditions respectively. Significant relation between OIPPIs and risk factors like place of respondent, place where the participant eat their food, chewing Khat, eating unwashed and raw vegetables, contact with animal, poor sanitations practice, low level of educational status and poor biomedical knowledge (P<0.05). Stool examination method including Modified Z-N staining and formol- ether concentration method should be routinely performed in Dilchora referral Hospital