Analysis of HIV/Malaria Coinfections among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Old Cross River State, Nigeria
Ugochi Immaculate Ejike
Virus Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Tochi Ifeoma Cookey
Virus Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Hope Chioma Innocent- Adiele
Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Iheanyi Omezuruike Okonko
Virus Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Malaria are the two main global public health threats that dent development in low and middle-income countries. This study evaluated the immunological marker and HIV/Malaria co-infection among individuals infected with HIV-1 in old Cross River State, Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) between March 2018 and August 2019.
Methods: A total of 417 individuals infected with HIV-1 partook in this study. The age of these individuals ranged from 4-72 years (average age = 39.1 years). Plasma samples were analyzed for HIV and Malaria using Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent Assay. The CD4 count was enumerated using the Partec CyFlow® Counter. Plasma viral loads (PVL) were determined using the Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 assay.
Results: Results showed that 230(55.1%) of the participants were in the 31-45 years age range. The majority (67.4%) of the HIV-1 infected individuals were females. An overall prevalence of HIV/Malaria coinfection in Old Cross River State, Nigeria was 14.3%, of which Uyo was 6.3% and Calabar was 3.0%. A higher prevalence of HIV/Malaria coinfection was observed among age groups <25 years (17.5%), males (5.1%), singles or divorced/widow/widower (7.7%), those with primary education (7.5%), and students (10.0%). Higher HIV/Malaria coinfection was also observed among those with CD4 cell count <200 cells/μl and 350-499 cells/μl (5.7%) and PVL >5000 copies/mL (7.9%) compared to others with 2.0% prevalence. Of all variables evaluated only marital status (p= 0.033), educational background (p= 0.000) and occupations (p =0.000) were significantly associated.
Conclusions: This study further confirmed the presence of HIV/Malaria coinfection in old Cross River State, Nigeria. This study has added to the voices on the ground to give a better view on the frequency and the pattern of distribution of HIV/Malaria coinfection since limited studies have been done on this in old Cross River State, Nigeria. This, therefore, highlights the need for a well-structured approach to the management of HIV/Malaria coinfection in Nigeria.
Keywords: Antibodies, HIV, coinfections, malaria, Nigeria