Effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection on Hematological Parameters Among Antenatal Clinic Attendees at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been a major health challenge in many parts of the world. WHO and UNAIDS estimated that 35.3 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2012. Sub-Saharan Africa had 70% of all new HIV infections and Kenya had the third largest population of people living with HIV. In Kenya the average national HIV prevalence among people aged 15 – 64 years was at 5.6% in 2012. There are no studies that have been carried out in Nyanza province in Kenya to check on point prevalence of HIV in relationship to hematological parameters at the ante natal clinic thus a literature gap exists. The aim of this study was to find out if there is any effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection on hematological parameters among antenatal clinic attendees and also to provide information on the hematological parameters that HIV had an effect on thus to show necessity of hematological parameters being part of tests to be carried out in routine ante natal clinic exam. The study involved screening of 197 ante natal clinic attendees using normal continuous sampling technique. Determine® and Unigold® were used to determine their HIV status. Hematological parameters were analyzed using Beckman coulter counter.  Data was collected using questionnaire by interviewing the ante natal clinic attendees and individual laboratory results recorded in case report form. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21 the data was expressed as mean + standard error of means. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out to compare differences between HIV status and hematological parameters.  Results showed that majority of the respondents 76.6% 151 were married. Most of the respondents 55.3% 109 had secondary education. Majority of the respondent 76.1% were not employed. The results indicated that none of the social status was significant with HIV status at P < 0.05 level. HIV status in relation to hematological parameters eosinophils was significant at P < 0.05 with a value of 0.015.  Other parameters significant were HCT 0.049, MCV at 0.000, MCHC 0.029, Platelets 0.032, MPV 0.002, and PDW 0.008.  The conclusion was that it is necessary to have hematological parameters checked as part of the routine ante natal clinic test so as to help treat opportunistic infections at an early stage.

Keywords: Ante natal clinic attendees