Malaria infection and anaemia in HIV-infected children in Mutengene, Southwest Cameroon: a cross sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children and HIV infection as well as other factors may worsen the situation. This study was aimed at determining the factors influencing malaria parasite prevalence and density as well as anaemia in HIV-infected children in Mutengene, Cameroon from November, 2012 to April, 2013.


METHODS
A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record information on socio-demographic factors and use of preventive measures by caregivers of HIV-infected children aged 1-15 years and of both sexes. Venous blood was collected; blood films were prepared and Giemsa-stained for parasite detection and speciation. Haemoglobin concentration was measured and the anaemic status determined. Data was analysed using Epi Info 7 software.


RESULTS
A total of 234 children were studied. The overall malaria parasite prevalence was 24.8 % (58) and was significantly higher (31.9 %, P = 0 .004) in females, those who did not implement any preventive measure at all (66.7 %, P = 0.03) and children who used antiretroviral therapy (ART) (28.6 %, P = 0.02) when compared with their respective counterparts. Geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was significantly higher (3098.4, P = 0.02) in children who presented with fever, had CD4 T cells ≥500 cells/μL (491.3, P = 0.003) and those with moderate anaemia (1658.8, P = 0.03) than their respective counterparts. Although there was no significant difference, GMPD was however higher in males (549.0); those not on ART (635.0) and highest in children <5 years old (633.0) than their respective counterparts. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 49.6 % (116). The value was significantly highest (58.3 %, P = 0.01) in the 11-15 years age group; those with CD4 T cell level 200-499 (72.7 %, P = 0.001) and children with fever (85.7 %, P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of proper and integrated malaria preventive measures as well as frequent monitoring of anaemia on prescription of ART could likely improve the health conditions of HIV-infected children thus avoiding malaria-related morbidity and mortality.
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon. bt_yk@yahoo.com.
Ayukenchengamba
A
Bate
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.|Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, NWR, Cameroon.
Helen K
HK
Kimbi
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.|Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 47, Yaounde, Centre Region, Cameroon.
Emmaculate
E
Lum
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 2701, Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon.
Leopold G
LG
Lehman
AIDS Care and Prevention Program, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, Bamenda, Cameroon.|Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Elias F
EF
Onyoh
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Lucy M
LM
Ndip
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Conica M
CM
Njabi
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 2701, Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon.
Calvin
C
Tonga
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Godlove
G
B Wempnje
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.|Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, PMB X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
Roland N
RN
Ndip
HIV/AIDS and Global Health Research Programme, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.
Pascal O
PO
Bessong
Anaemia; Cameroon; HIV-infected children; Malaria parasite prevalence and density
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