Socio-economic Correlates of Intestinal Helminthiasis Infestation in Children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Presenting in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-ozalla, Enugu

Background: Children infected with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be more prone to helminthic infestation and this may be modified by their socio-demographic and hygiene-related variables.

Objectives: This study was aimed at eliciting the various socioeconomic correlates that affect helminth infections among children with HIV and comparing it with their normal counterparts who had no HIV.

Methods: A cross-sectional study where a total of 140 subjects including 70 HIV-infected children and 70 children without HIV infection. They were consecutively recruited from the Paediatric HIV clinic and matched for age and sex with.

Results: Socio-economic class, area of residence, hygienic practices such as method of feacal disposal, hand washing practices and footwear practices were significantly associated with helminthic infestation at the bivariate level of analysis (p < 0.05). Using bivariate analysis, of the independent variables that were significant at the bivariate analysis, only lower socioeconomic class was an independent predictor of helminthic infestation (AOR = 6.403, 95% CI: 1.303 to 31.469)

Conclusion: Socio-demographic and hygiene-related risk factors are similar in HIV-positive and negative children. However, lower socioeconomic status is an independent predictor of helminthic intestinal infestation after controlling for potential confounders such as age and gender.