Appraisal of the inherent socio-demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in four districts of South-Western Uganda

Although HIV prevalence in Uganda is much lower than it once was; AIDS is still claiming many lives each year with clear signs of escalating rural epidemics. The objective of this study was to appraise the socio-economic and demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in South-Western Uganda. Data were collected with standard closed ended semi-structured questionnaires self-administered to consenting; 605 HIV/AIDS patients; selected using the multistage random sampling technique; logistic linear regression; randomized block design and Pearson's Chi square test (a=0.01) were used to analyse the data obtained. The duration of carriage was inversely proportional (r=-0.94) to population of HIV/AIDS patients surveyed. There were 98.2 Bantu (55.5 Banyankole and 22.6 Baganda); 77.5 females and 22.5 males; more widows (38.0) than married (35.5). HIV/AIDS prevalence generally decreased with increasing level of education. The highest (66.7). HIV/AIDS prevalence generally decreased with increasing level of education. The highest (66.7) HIV/AIDS prevalence was recorded in Bushenyi; followed by 58.4 in Masaka; 57.9 in Mbarara and 53.3 in Rukungiri. Rukungiri patients above 60 years of age harboured 57.1 HIV/AIDS followed by 45.5 among Masaka patients aged 11 - 20 years and 40 among Mbarara patients less than 10 years of age. HIV/AIDS prevalence was significantly (p0.05) dependent on socio-economic and demographic factors of surveyed population. Therefore socio-economic and demographic factors underlie HIV/AIDS prevalence in this region. Observed differences in prevalence of HIV/AIDS between the surveyed districts wereremarkable and warrant regular surveillance for updated disease epidemiology. Education can debunk the generally misconstrued rolesof social; economic and demographic factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS

High incidence of co-infection with Malaria and Typhoid in febrile HIV infected and AIDS patients in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria / Alta incidência de co-infecção de malária e febre tifóide em pacientes febris com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigéria

This survey was designed to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Salmonella Typhi among febrile HIV/AIDS patients in Ekpoma. Malaria and typhoid risk factors in Ekpoma included occupation, poor health facilities and poor sanitation. Malaria and typhoid are highly prevalent among Ekpoma HIV/AIDS patients.

Esta pesquisa investigou a prevalência de Plasmodium falciparum e Salmonella typhi entre pacientes febris com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma. Os fatores de risco para malária e febre tifóide incluem atividade profissional, baixas condições de saúde e saneamento deficiente. A prevalência de malária e febre tifóide entre os pacientes com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma é elevada.

CD4 count, viral load and parasite density of HIV positive individuals undergoing malaria treatment with dihydroartemisinin in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: A prospective study on 72 HIV infected and 33 HIV negative individuals undergoing malaria treatment with dihydroartemisinin (Cotecxin) was undertaken to compare CD4 cells count, viral load and parasite density at two time-points, a baseline visit and a 9-day post-treatment visit. METHODS: CD4 count and viral load of the subjects were estimated using Dynabeads T4-T8 Quantification Protocol (Dyneal Biotech, Norway) and Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test respectively (Roche, United Kingdom). RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in CD4 count at 9-day post-treatment when compared with baseline value (p < 0.05) in HIV infected individuals with CD4 < or =200 cells/microl. Also, the 9-day post-treatment viral load value was statistically higher than the baseline value (p < 0.05). In HIV positive patients with CD4 >200 cells/microl, a marked significant increase was obtained when the mean viral load at baseline was compared to the 9-day post-treatment visit value (p <0.05). The mean parasite density in HIV positive subjects was statistically higher when compared to that of HIV negative individuals at baseline and 9-day post-treatment (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The study as such may not confirm the impact of malaria infection on progression to AIDS, incorporating effective malaria control in HIV management programmes may improve tremendously the quality of life of HIV infected individuals.