HIV - sero Positivity and Intestinal Helminthiasis among Children in a Tertiary Health Facility in Benin-City, Nigeria.

Abstract

To determine the effect of HIV sero - positivity on the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis. Descriptive, crossectional study design was undertaken. A cross sectional study among 496 HIV sero- positive (cases) and 490 HIV sero- negative (controls) children 1 – 15 years attending paediatrics clinic were surveyed for intestinal helminthiasis. Faecal samples were collected and examined for the presence of characteristic helminth ova using formol ether concentration method while intensity of infection was determined using McMaster counting chamber. Overall prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 15.4%. Prevalence was higher among the cases, 21.4% than the control, 9.5% and the difference in rate of infection was found to be statistically significant (PÂ 0.0000). The prevalence of helminthiasis is significantly higher among the cases than the controls. It is likely that in the cases, HIV status could have accentuated their susceptibility to helminthiasis. Regular deworming of cases alongside improved personal hygiene should be practiced to reduce infection burden.

Key words: HIV sero - positive, intestinal helminth, children, health facility.