MAGNITUDE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CRYPTOCCOCAL MENINGITIS AMONG ADULTS LIVING WITH HIV IN ADDIS ABABA: A FACILITY BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Background: Cryptococcal meningitis is a major cause of HIV/AIDS-related deaths in Africa. It most often results in deaths. There is scarce data available regarding the burden of HIV–cryptococcal meningitis and associated factors among people living with human immune deficiency virus in Ethiopia. This study therefore, conducted to determine the burden of HIV-Cryptoccocal co-infection and associated factors among adults living with HIV attending in three-referral hospital in Addis Ababa. Methods: Facility based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2015 to July 2017 in three selected health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Random sampling technique was used to select 360 HIV-cryptoccocal meningitis infected patients card‚ ’s. Data Abstraction checklist was used to collect independent variables. Data was entered by using Epinfo data version 7.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. 95% CI and p-value less than to 0.05 was considered as significant association. Results: HIV and cryptoccocal meningitis co infection was found to be 11.9 %. from clinical feature ,oral candidiasis (OR=2.90, CI ,1.8-7.90, p<0.041 ) ,vomiting (OR: 4.20, CI, 2.32 13.8, P<0.022 ) and not starting treatments of ART (OR : 11.02 ,CI, 2.45-49. 49, P value<002) were significantly associated with HIV and cryptoccocal meningitis co infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV-CM in this area was 11.9%. It is recommended that the MOH to design interventions like early prophylaxis treatment initiation for those risk groups to prevent and control HIV-cryptoccocal meningitis co infection, and should take the leading role in implementing a routine screening of Cryptococcus neoformans antigen among HIV patients with CD4 count ≤200 cells/ul. This will improve the accurate early diagnosis and provide the surest way to reverse the deteriorating health status of the patients. Keywords: Cryptoccocal Meningitis, Human immunodeficiency virus, Co infection, Addis Ababa Ethiopia