TITLE:
Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sickle Cell Patients in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana
AUTHORS:
Amaris T. D. Baah, Daniel E. Azumah, Charles Ampiah, Johnson Boampong, Samuel V. Nuvor
KEYWORDS:
HIV, Sickle Cell Disease, Incidence, Prevalence
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.4 No.3,
September
10,
2014
ABSTRACT: Context: Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a well-known pathogen that causes acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The course of HIV infection and progression
may be influenced by sickle cell traits. Objectives: The aim of this study was
to determine the incidence of HIV among sickle cell patients in the Cape Coast
metropolis. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among patients who
visited the Central Regional Hospital, Cape Coast. About 2 ml of blood sample
was drawn from each participant for sickle cell test using sodium
metabisulphite solution. Sickle cell positive samples were selected and tested
for the presence of HIV using Alere DetermineTMHIV-1/2. Results: A total of 75
patients made up of 25 males and 50 females were enrolled. Their age ranges
between 4 to 59 years (27, 1 - 15 years; 24, 16 - 30 years; 17, 31 - 45 years;
7, 46 - 60 years). Fifteen (15) (20%) had received at least a single blood
transfusion while the remaining 60 (80%) had never received blood transfusion before
the study. Thirty-six patients (48.0%) were married and the other 39 patients
(52.0%) were single. Five patients (6.7%) had antibodies to HIV whereas 70
patients (93.3%) were not with the virus. Conclusion: The incidence rate of HIV
among sickle cell trait children and the youths of Cape Coast metropolis were
found to be 6.7%. This may suggest that sickle cell traits in children and the
youth may be associated with HIV transmission.