Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in HIV-infected subjects on cotrimoxazole antimalarial prophylaxis attending a tertiary health care center in southern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Co-infection has become a major contributor to increased burden of morbidity and mortality in HIV infection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the HIV-infected subjects on antimalarial prophylaxis and provide information to improve management of HIV subjects. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with a purposive sampling. Microscopy method was used for the confirmation of malaria parasitemia status. The study was performed in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, a major tertiary health institution within the period of January to June 2016 involving 100 participants. RESULTS: The majority (65%) of the study participants were females. The majority of the studied population belonged to the age range 33-38 years old. Most (45%) of the patients had CD4 count ≥500 cells/µL. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was found to be 13% (13/100). The distribution of asymptomatic malaria based on gender and age were found not to be statistically significant (P>0.05). Subjects with CD4 count in the range of 200-499 cells/µL had the highest prevalence (24.39%) of asymptomatic malaria. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that all the studied participants were on antimalarial prophylaxis, it signals a public health concern to employ more intensive preventive methods in addition to antimalaria prophylaxis.