Preliminary Report on the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Malaria among People Living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and malaria among people living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Four hundred (400) blood and stool samples of people living with HIV/AIDS were collected from 45 NAF Base Hospital and Bishop Murray Hospital, Makurdi and examined for intestinal parasites and malaria infections between the months of September and December 2014. Formal-ether concentration technique was used for the stool examination; the thick film was prepared for blood examinations. The most prevalent parasitic infections found was malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) (46.0%).This was followed by Taenasis (Taenia solium) (13.0%), Amoebasis (Entamoeba histolytica) (8.0%) and hookworm disease (4.0%). The result shows that the age groups1– 10 and 11– 20 years had the highest prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites (93.0%) each. While 51– 60 years had the least prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites (50.0%). Chi-square analysis showed that there was significant differences in the distribution of intestinal parasite and malaria by age (χ2 Cal= 120.835 df 6, p˂0.05).Chi-square test also revealed that there was significant differences between the infections in male and female individuals (χ2 Cal= 36.288df 60, P˂0.05 and χ2 Cal= 67.924df 60, P˂0.05) respectively. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite and malaria is high among people living with HIV/AIDS within Makurdi Metropolis.