Introduction: HIV/AIDS has been occurring in the world as the major pandemic disease that affects all parts of the world, but sub-Saharan Africa it is high in prevalence which reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and makes individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. This often leads the patients to a variety of opportunistic infections including fungal infections and the like . Superficial fungal infections are common in HIV patients that can have an atypical clinical severity and variability of presentation and may be extensive, recurrent, and difficult to treat.
Objectives: This study aims to determine the magnitude and associated factors of superficial fungal infections on HIV/AIDS patients who have follow up at ART clinic in Debre Tabor General Hospital.
Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study design was used via systematic random method with k th value of 3 rd on 299 study population from December/2015-Feburaray/2016.
Result: Prevalence of superficial fungal infection in this study was 59.2% with 99.7% response rate. Female {AOR(95% CI); 2.6 (3.06, 7.901)}, age ranges less than 15 [AOR(95% CI); 4.03 (0.002, 0.994)], and ages between 16-30 years [AOR(95% CI);2.1 (1.93, 7.16)], uneducated subjects [AOR (95% CI); 3.4 (0.00, 0.150)], presence of pets in the home 5.3 [(0.001, 0.183)], income source being a farmer [AOR (95% CI); 4.3 (0.031,0.72)], CD4 level less than 200cells/mm 3 [AOR (95% CI); 8 (0.00, 0.007)] and work condition associated to water [AOR (95% CI); 6.3 (7.31, 13.800)] were statistically significant to the presence of superficial fungal infection in Debretabor General hospital at ART clinic.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of superficial fungal infection in the study area was relatively high (59.2%) having a statistical significant association with age, sex, income source (farmer), educational status, presence of pets in the home, CD4 level, work condition associated with water body. Thus, a continuous health education about the disease, factors with education on preventive methods and treating the cases accordingly of fungal infections should be sought.
Keywords: Magnitude, Superficial fungal infection, HIV/AIDS
