The Interaction between HIV and Intestinal Helminth Parasites Coinfection with Nutrition among Adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa few studies have examined the effects of the overlap of HIV and helminth infections on nutritional status. This cross-sectional study investigated the interaction between HIV and intestinal helminths coinfection with nutritional status among KwaZulu-Natal adults. Participants were recruited from a comprehensive primary health care clinic and stratified based on their HIV, stool parasitology, IgE, and IgG4 results into four groups: the uninfected, HIV infected, helminth infected, and HIV-helminth coinfected groups. The nutritional status was assessed using body mass index, 24-hour food recall, micro-, and macronutrient biochemical markers. Univariate and multivariate multinomial probit regression models were used to assess nutritional factors associated with singly and dually infected groups using the uninfected group as a reference category. Biochemically, the HIV-helminth coinfected group was associated with a significantly higher total protein, higher percentage of transferrin saturation, and significantly lower ferritin. There was no significant association between single or dual infections with HIV and helminths with micro- and macronutrient deficiency; however general obesity and low micronutrient intake patterns, which may indicate a general predisposition to micronutrient and protein-energy deficiency, were observed and may need further investigations.

The Investigation of the Use of Prealbumin as a Tool for Nutritional Assessment in Adults Coinfected with HIV and Intestinal Helminth Parasites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…The study site was a comprehensive primary healthcare clinic, providing all essential healthcare services, including HIV counselling and testing (HCT). The sociodemographic profile of the participants has been described in detail elsewhere [ 33 ].…”

“…After attending to any queries on the study, all those willing to participate were asked to give written informed consent before enrolment. The recruitment and enrolment process is detailed elsewhere [ 33 ]. 263 consenting adults (18 years of age and older, not on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and not pregnant if female) were enrolled in the study.…”

“…The stool samples donated by each participant on two consecutive days were screened microscopically by two trained persons, after the Kato Katz and the Mini Parasep® Faecal Parasite Concentrator (Apacor Ltd., England) preparation methods were made. The stool preparation methods are described elsewhere [ 33 ]. Blood samples were collected from each participant by a trained phlebotomist.…”

“…Screened participants were allocated into four groups: (1) the uninfected/controls, (2) HIV singly infected group, (3) helminth singly infected group, and (4) HIV-helminth coinfected group. The methods of screening for HIV status and the presence of intestinal helminth parasites for allocation into these groups have been described in detail elsewhere [ 33 ].…”

The Prevalence, Risk factors and Outcomes of Anaemia in South African Pregnant Women: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Anaemia affects almost 2 billion people worldwide, with iron de ciency anaemia being the commonest cause. As with other low and middle-income countries with similar sociodemographic characteristics, the South African population is more susceptible to anaemia due to the prevalence of chronic nutritional insu ciency and concomitant infective conditions (5). The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age women in sub-Saharan Africa to be 57.1% (6), but this varies between regions, with the highest in Central and West Africa(61%) and the lowest level reported in Southern Africa (34%) in 2011.…”