Prevalence of HIV Associated Neuro-cognitive Deficit among HIV Positive People in Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

Abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS is a common infection in sub-Saharan Africa which is also associated with neurocognitive impairment and psychological. Even if HAART reduces HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) by approximately 60 percentage, over 8 million HIV-infected adults in sub-Saharan Africa will be cognitively impaired at some level. This study aimed to assess prevalence and factors associated with neurocognitive impairment among adults living with HIV/AIDS at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized hospital, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 10 to November 10, 2016. The data were collected by using interview administered questionnaire and international HIV dementia scale (IHDS) was used to assess neuro-cognitive deficits. Systematic random sampling technique was used to study to recruit 360 study participants. Results: The response rate of the study was 91.15%. 148 (41.1percentage ) of the participants had HIV associated neuro-cognitive deficits. Being unable to read and write (AOR=13.27, (95 percentage  CI: 4.41, 13.98)), being widow/widower (AOR=3.21, (95 percentage  CI: 1.20, 8.31)), being unemployed (AOR=2.9, (95 percentage  CI: 1.18, 7.13)), being under poverty (AOR=2.64, (95% CI: 1.26, 5.51)), presence of opportunistic infections (AOR=3.16, (95 percentage  CI: 1.57, 6.36)) are significantly associated with neurocognitive impairments. Conclusion: Being unable to read and write, being widow/widower, being unemployed, being living under poverty and the presence of opportunistic infections are significantly associated with neurocognitive impairments. Training of health workers on how to assess neuro-cognitive impairments among HIV clients is mandatory.

Keywords: Neuro-cognitive deficits, HIV, AIDS, Ethiopia

Cite this Article

Bereket Duko, Yacob Abraham, Prevalence of HIV Associated Neuro-cognitive Deficit among HIV Positive People in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Immunology. 2018; 8(3): 13–18p.