Abstract

Malaria remains the single main cause of ill health and death among HIV/AIDS patients in
resource-poor countries worldwide. Malaria still remains a challenging infection affecting the
lives of several HIV-infected persons in Uganda. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show
that malaria is still the leading cause of death in Uganda, accounting for over 27% of deaths.
Malaria prevalence in HIV-positive patients in Kyamuhunga Health Centre III is thought to be
at 7.8% of the HIV-positive patients attending the clinic on a daily basis. This study therefore
aimed at assessing the factors contributing to the high prevalence of malaria among HIVpositive
patients attending the HIV Clinic at Kyamuhunga Health Centre III in Bushenyi
District. The study covered a sample of eighty (80) respondents to gather primary data. A
simple random sampling method was used to gather responses from patients. Questionnaires
and an interview guide were used as data collection tools. Results indicated that the majority
of the participants were female patients and malaria was dominant among HIV-positive
patients aged 38-47 years. It was noted that the odds of having malaria also increased among
patients with lower levels of education. It was also noted that more odds of having malaria
were found among the majority of patients who were farmers and unemployed participants.
Malaria infection was acquired with repeated exposure to malaria parasites especially for
patients who did not use insecticide treated mosquito nets. It is noted that HIV-positive
patients with malaria greatly acquired unbalanced immunity with relatively low CD4+ cell
count and unbalanced hemoglobin levels, greatly affected by body pain and weakness, fever,
headache, and variety issues of vomiting. Paracetamol, use of treated mosquito nets, clinical
examination, and patient follow-up was shown to provide a beneficial effect in preventing
malaria infection among HIV-positive patients. In conclusion, malaria infection is acquired
from repeated exposure to malaria parasites especially for patients who did not use Treated
mosquito nets which increased the susceptibility to new malaria infections among HIVpositive
patients. The researcher, therefore, recommends that comprehensive health
education, antiretroviral therapy, and malaria preventive materials such as insecticidetreated
bed nets should be provided to reduce the prevalence of malaria among HIV-positive
patients.