title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites among HIV patients at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal parasites are more common in people with HIV, especially in tropical developing countries. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites among people with HIV at the Yaoundé Central Hospital Accredited Treatment Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured questionnaires were used to collect clinical information after obtaining consent from the participants. Stool samples were collected from 207 HIV-positive patients for the investigation of intestinal pathogens using direct microscopy, formalin-ether concentration, ZiehlNeelsen modified and Kato-Katz methods. Data was analyzed using Epi-info version 3.4.1. and Microsoft Office Excel 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 207 people were recruited. Eighty (38.65%) were male and 127 (61.35%) were female. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite infections was 57.48% (119/207). The parasites detected in our study population included Entamoeba coli (22.68%), Ascaris lumbricoïdes (22.68%), Entamoeba histolytica(15.93%), Cryptosporidium spp (12.60%), Isospora belli (10.08%), Trichuris trichiura (7.60%), Strongyloïdesstercoralis (5.88%), Ancylostomaduodenale and Necatoramericanus (2.52%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the end of our study, it appears that intestinal parasites still occupy an important place among HIV-positive patients.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Centre Regional Delegation, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Marius Zambou
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Vouking
authors.affiliation: 'Ecole des Techniciens Médico-Sanitaires de Yaoundé', Cameroon.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enoka
authors.affiliation: Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Claire Violette
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Tamo
authors.affiliation: Catholic University for Central Africa School of Health Sciences, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Carine Nouboudem
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tadenfok
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015497:HIV-1; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Cameroon; HIV; Prevalence; Yaoundé Central Hospital Accredited Treatment Centre; intestinal parasites