Prevalence of Malaria Infection among People Living with HIV in Kinshasa

Abstract

BACKGROUND Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and malaria are two infectious diseases which are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in sub- Saharan Africa and each a major public health problem. Data on malaria infection among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are poorly defined in Kinshasa as there are very few studies available on the subject. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of co- infection HIV/Malaria in Kinshasa to improve the care of PLHIV, this study was initiated to update the data. METHODOLOGY This study was a prospective cohort. 123 volunteers participated in this study in the third month. 114 patients completed the 6-month visit. Malaria diagnosis by microscopy was performed at the two medical visits. A sample of 5 ml of blood was also drawn in a tube with EDTA for the determination of viral load and measuring the rate of CD4 T lymphocyte. RESULTS In the third month of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), we had 123 PLHIV (78 women and 45 men). Viral loads (VL) ranged from 390.79 copies/ml (2.59 log10) and 3854, 6691.53 copies/ml (6.59 log10). The CD4 ranged between 90 and 547 cells/mm3. 25 patients (20.33%) were positive for malaria. At 6th month of ART, there were 114 patients (75 women and 39 men). The CV of the population ranged from 0 copies/ml and 2693671.54 copies/ml (6.43 log10). The CD4 at 6th month were in the range between 421 and 984 cells/mm3. 20 patients (17.54%) presented positive thick smear for malaria. CONCLUSION The prevalence rate of HIV/malaria co-infection varies between 17.54 and 20.33% in Kinshasa.