Main Article Content

Bitter kola and kola nut use and their effect on treatment outcome on People Living with HIV at a Military Hospital in Benue state Nigeria


Elias C. Aniwada
Godian C. Ezema

Abstract

Introduction: Bitter Kola (Garcinia Kola) and kola nut, contains substances attributed to numerous effects on humans including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic properties, anti-infective and caffeinism. This study explores Bitter kola and kola nut use and its impact on treatment outcome on People Living with HIV (PLWHIV).


Methods: The study was conducted at a Military Hospital in Nigeria. An analytical cross-sectional study was done using questionnaire  among 700 HIV-positive clients selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected by researcher and three trained assistants.  Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used for identifying associations and predictors, respectively. The level of significance  was set at p < 0.05.


Results: Findings show that 260 (63.6%) and 179 (25.6%) have ever and currently used Bitter kola/Kola nut, respectively. Also, 14 (7.8%)  used Bitter kola/Kola nut alone while 165 (92.2%) used it in addition to other substances, especially with alcohol 123 (68.7%). Bitter kola  use was associated with age (p = 0.037), gender (p < 0.001), occupation (p = 0.001), and number of children (p < 0.011). Identified  predictors were being a female (AOR 0.79; 95% CI 0.08-0.92) and earning <18,000 Naira (AOR 2.91; 95% CI 2.03-21.54). There was no  association of Bitter kola/kola nut use with CD4 count and viral load suppression.


Conclusion: Though Kola nut and Bitter kola use was  high as in the general population we have not found any effect on treatment outcome among PLWHIV. This calls for more research to  ascertain if there are other possible beneficial effects on PLWHIV. 


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2415-2420
print ISSN: 0014-1755