title: The prevalence of malaria among HIV seropositive individuals and the impact of the co- infection on their hemoglobin levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria and HIV/AIDS are the two most common infections in sub-Sahara Africa. There are hypotheses and study reports on the possible association between these two infections, hence the prevalence and outcome of their co-infection in an endemic population will be important in defining healthcare strategies. A cross sectional study was carried out at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana, between November 2011 and January 2012, to determine the prevalence of malaria among HIV sero-positive patients and its impact on hemoglobin levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 400 HIV sero-positive participants (292 females and 108 males) aged between 1 and 73 years were randomly sampled for the study. A questionnaire was administered and 2 ml of venous blood samples were drawn for malaria parasites detection, CD4 count and haemoglobin level estimations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malaria parasites were detected in 47 (11.75%) of the participants. There was no statistically significant difference between the malaria prevalence rate of females (12.1%) and males (10.2%) P = 0.6047. An overall anaemia prevalence of 67% was observed. Among participants with malaria the anaemia prevalence was 93.6%. The CD4 cell count of all the participants ranged between 3 and 1604 cells/μl with a mean of 386.2 (±274.3) cells/μl. Participants with malaria had CD4 cell count ranged 3 and 512 Cells/μl with the mean being 186.33 (±133.49) Cells/μl. Out of 377 participants (all above 15 years) interviewed on knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention, 87.0% had knowledge on transmission but only 8.5% use in bed nets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was revealed that almost all the patients with malaria infection were anemic.
authors: Sammy C K
authors: SC
authors: Tay
authors: Kingsley
authors: K
authors: Badu
authors: Anthony A
authors: AA
authors: Mensah
authors: Stephen Y
authors: SY
authors: Gbedema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006454:Hemoglobins