Hiv Screening Status And The Prevalence Of Malaria Parasite Among Undergraduates In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike.:- Amama, Ijeoma A

ABSTRACT A study on the prevalence of malaria parasite and HIV screening status of undergraduate students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike was conducted at the school’s medical Centre and at the Biology Laboratory. A total of 315 students made up of 136 males and 179 females who voluntarily donated their blood for examination for the presence of malaria parasite and HIV infection. Plasmodium parasites were examined using thick and thin blood films while screening was done using Determine HIV 1/2, Unigold and Stat-pak kits. Out of this number, 93.97% and 2.86% were infected for malaria and HIV kits respectively with 0.95% HIV indeterminate cases. Malaria - HIV coinfection stood at 3.81%. Gender wise, more males (4.41%) than females (1.68%) were infected for HIV (4.41%). Similarly, more males (94.86%) than females (93.30%) were infected for malaria. Age related infection rate was highest in the age group 26-30 years for malaria and HIV. Some common symptoms associated with malaria were constant headache (26.98%), body weakness (15.56%), fever (24.13%), vomiting (13.02%), flu (10.16%), nausea (19.37%), sweating (35.24%), shivering (10.16%), loss of appetite (18.41%) while those of HIV were rashes (1.27%), abnormal blood pressure (0%), weight loss (0.95%), fever (24.13%)and cough (11.11%). Lack of time (78.73%), distance (78.73%) and fear (95.56%) were some of the factors that affected student’s attitude to HIV screening and malaria test. Possible attributable causes of malaria were mosquito bites (81.90%), breeding sites(3.17%), uncleanliness (21.90%) while those of HIV were premarital sex (2.22%), sharing of shaving sticks (91.75%),skin piercing and tattoos (1.90%), use of sharp objects (0.95%) and blood transfusion (0.63%). Preventive measures against malaria were the use of insecticides (13.51%), anti-malaria drugs (66.03%), insect repellents (0.32%), mosquito nets (49.52%) and proper sanitation. Preventive measures for HIV were the use of screened blood for transfusion (56.20%), avoid sharing of sharp objects (97.78%), abstinence to sex with non-spouse (8.89%), use of condom (62.22%), avoid sharing needles and syringes (91.11%) and proper information (96.51%).