title: Prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasitic infection among HIV infected patients who are taking antiretroviral treatment at Jimma Health Center, Jimma, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the major health problems among HIV sero-positive patients are superimposed infections due to the deficient immunity. Furthermore, intestinal parasitic (IP) infections, which are also one of the basic health problems in tropical regions, are common in these patients. Infection by opportunistic pathogens, including various forms of intestinal parasites has been the hall mark of HIV since the beginning of the epidemic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasitic infection among HIV patients who are taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Jimma, Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient samples were diagnosed by examination of single stool specimen which was examined as fresh wet mounts, formal-ether concentration technique and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Data was obtained from 91 study subjects selected by convenience sampling method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was found to be 39.56%. Eight types of intestinal parasites was identified, the most dominant being, Ascaris lumbricoides, 21.67%, Entamoeba histolytica, 15% and Cryptosporidium parvum 13.33%. The prevalence of opportunistic parasite was 15.38%, the prevalence of non-opportunistic parasite was 20.87% and the prevalence of both opportunistic and non opportunistic was 3.29%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicated that intestinal parasites were still a problem in the study area. Data also showed that among the predisposing factors, habit of hand washing before meal, usage of latrine and duration after treatment was statistically associated with intestinal parasitic infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeynudin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hemalatha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kannan
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents