Prevalence of opportunistic infections and associated factors among HIV-infected persons aged above 15 years on ART in Ruhengeri Refferal hospital from 2007-2017

Abstract

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic is the greatest health crises ever faced by humanity. It causes progressive weakening of the immune system, leading to opportunistic infections (OIs) or malignancies during the natural course of the disease. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with occurrence of OIs among adults patients on ART in Ruhengeri referral hospital. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional and analytical study was performed by reviewing data of HIV positive adult patients (≥15 years) on ART enrolled at Ruhengeri referral hospital from 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2017. Opportunistic infections were based on clinical diagnosis. The prevalence of OIs was determined as the proportion of HIV/AIDS patients on ART who developed one or more OIs. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (CORs and AORs), respectively with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to describe the strength of association between OIs and possible risk factors. Results The mean age of participants was 43 (SD±11.5) and female were majority (64.1%. Pre- ART has been provided to almost all participants (97.6%) and 75.7% of participants had spent more than five years on ART. Among participants, 40.2% were at WHO clinical stage I, 61.2% had CD4 count between 200 and 499, and 92.2% were at 1st line regimen. Out of 423 patients, 39 had diagnosed OIs (9.2%). Frequent OIs were tuberculosis (20%), oral candidiasis (15.6), pneumonia (15.6%) and STI (15.6%). The independent risk factors for developing OIs were being jobless (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.03, 95% CI= 2.13, 32.99), spending more than five years on ART (AOR= 4.34, 95% CI= 1.12-16.78) and starting ART at WHO clinical stage III (AOR= 4.88, 95% CI= 1.65-16.78). Conclusion Opportunistic infections remain a challenge among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Ruhengeri referral hospital. There is need to strengthen the management of opportunistic infections despite the use of ART.