Abstract:
Background; Opportunistic infections are a major public health problem among AIDS
patients in developing countries like Ethiopia. Despite the fact that different studies have
been conducted on the prevalence of individual Opportunistic infection among HIV infected patients on anti retroviral therapy in Ethiopia, information about the magnitude
and spectrum of opportunistic infection is scarce as far as the knowledge of the researcher.
Objective: to assess the magnitude of opportunistic infections and their associated factors
in patients taking antiretroviral theraoyin Debre Berhan town health facilities, North Shoa
Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Methods; Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A systematic random
sampling technique was used to select 408 participants. Interviewer administrated
questionnaire was employed to collect data. The data werecoded, entered to Epi data 3.1
and analyzed with SPSS version 22 software packages. The binary regression was
performed and a variable with a p-value <=0.20 was included in multivariable logistic
regression. The strength of the association of predictor variables was assessed using odds
ratio and P-value ≤0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant.
Result: the magnitude of opportunistic infections were 22.5% (95% CI: 18.9, 26.7). Being
male AOR=2.41 (95%CI: 1.14, 5.09), current alcohol drinking habit AOR=9.14 (95% CI:
4.08,20.49), being rural residence AOR=2.63 (95% CI: 1.22,5.69) and CD4 count of
between 351-500 cell/mm3 AOR=0.06(95%CI:0.02, 0.20) were significantly associated
with opportunistic infections.
Conclusion and recommendations: In this study, even if magnitude of opportunistic
infections among ART user clients was lower but still the problem exists and needs some
intervention. Giving adequate care for their ART clients on opportunistic infections
specifically for male, Monitoring closely ART clients specifically alcohol drinker and rural
resident clients.
