PREVALENCE OF OPPORTUNISTIC INTESTINAL PROTOZOAN PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG HIV SERO-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS AT DILCHORA REFERRAL HOSPITAL,DIRE DAWA TOWN, EASTERN

Abstract:

Opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasitic infections (OIPPIs) are major public health problems in developing countries especially among HIV/AIDS patients. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of major opportunistic intestinal protozoan parasitic infections among HIV sero-positive individuals at Dilchora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa Town, Eastern Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from December, 2017-February, 2018. A total of 403 HIV sero-positive individual stool samples and structured questionnaires were collected serially from all in patients and out patients living with HIV/AIDS. Based on their consent the collected stool samples were processed by using the direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl Neelsen methods. Questionnaire survey was used to gather relevant information on socio-demographic and risk factor. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square was used to assess the relationship between OIPPI and exposure with different risk factors at p-value