Clinical, Biological and Sociodemographic profiles of highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) Naïve Patients in the Garoua Military Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Knowing at what point patients are put on treatment during the clinical and biological (CD4 count) stages of HIV is important. This study investigated the clinical, biological and sociodemographic profiles of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) naïve patients in the Garoua military hospital, Cameroon. This was a cross-sectional study that collected data on demographic, clinical and laboratory variables from 66HIV-infected patients aged 19 years and older from January 2013 to January 2014. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software program at the level 0.05. Sixty-six (66) HIV positive patients were received in the health facility during the study period, the majority of whom were female, 65.6%. Only 37.5% of their sexual partners were aware of patients’ HIV serostatus. Similarly, only 26.8% of patients’ stable sexual partners had done an HIV test, of which 73.3% tested positive. Skin diseases, weight loss and chronic fever were the commonest clinical manifestations found (33.3%, 25.4% and 17.5% respectively). About 90% of the clients had CD4 counts less than 350 cells/mm3 on clinical presentation. Hemoglobin counts less than 12g/dl were found in 72.7% of the clients. Females were more likely than males to present with skin diseases, weight loss and fever. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.159). Similarly, females (65.0%) were more likely to have CD4 counts less than 350 compared to males (35.0%) (p=0.167). More patients age less than 35 years, presented with skin diseases, weight loss and cough than those age more than 35 years. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p=0.632). In the same vein, more patients, age less than 35, had CD4 counts less than 350, than those aged more than 35 years (p=0.430). Most of our study patients had CD4 counts less than 350 cells/ml at presentation for HAART initiation. This suggests late HIV diagnosis and thus a delayed opportunity for timely access to HIV care and initiation of HAART. There is the need to intensify efforts in early routine HIV counseling and testing in health facilities in the cities, smaller towns and rural communities, so as to reduce the frequency of late HIV diagnosis with its potential implications. Encouraging clients to get their partners tested and consequently be managed appropriately is of utmost need in this area. Qualitative research to better ascertain reasons of not knowing partner status should be carried out.