Publications

Malaria remains the single main cause of ill health and death among HIV/AIDS patients inresource-poor countries worldwide. Malaria still remains a challenging infection affecting thelives of several HIV-infected persons in Uganda. Statistics from the Ministry of Health showthat malaria is still the leading cause of death in Uganda, accounting for over 27% of deaths.Malaria prevalence in HIV-positive patients in Kyamuhunga Health Centre III is thought to beat 7.8% of the HIV-positive patients attending the clinic on a daily basis. This study thereforeaimed at assessing the factors contributing to the high prevalence of malaria among HIVpositivepatients attending the HIV Clinic at Kyamuhunga Health Centre III in BushenyiDistrict. The study covered a sample of eighty (80) respondents to gather primary data. Asimple random sampling method was used to gather responses from patients. Questionnairesand an interview guide were used as data collection tools. Results indicated that the majorityof the participants were female patients and malaria was dominant among HIV-positivepatients aged 38-47 years. It was noted that the odds of having malaria also increased amongpatients with lower levels of education. It was also noted that more odds of having malariawere found among the majority of patients who were farmers and unemployed participants.Malaria infection was acquired with repeated exposure to malaria parasites especially forpatients who did not use insecticide treated mosquito nets. It is noted that HIV-positivepatients with malaria greatly acquired unbalanced immunity with relatively low CD4+ cellcount and unbalanced hemoglobin levels, greatly affected by body pain and weakness, fever,headache, and variety issues of vomiting. Paracetamol, use of treated mosquito nets, clinicalexamination, and patient follow-up was shown to provide a beneficial effect in preventingmalaria infection among HIV-positive patients. In conclusion, malaria infection is acquiredfrom repeated exposure to malaria parasites especially for patients who did not use Treatedmosquito nets which increased the susceptibility to new malaria infections among HIVpositivepatients. The researcher, therefore, recommends that comprehensive healtheducation, antiretroviral therapy, and malaria preventive materials such as insecticidetreatedbed nets should be provided to reduce the prevalence of malaria among HIV-positivepatients.