Background: Candida albicans still major leading global health challenge especially in immunocompromised individual particularly living in low-income countries with limited access to the antifungal drugs. Though the incidences and prevalence of opportunistic infection have been reduced due to the availability and strict adherence to the antiretroviral therapy, candidiasis remains the most frequent fungal infection with high morbidity and mortality and It is still a neglected topic in the research sectors of developing world including Rwanda. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of candida albicans infection among HIV positive and HIV negative women attending Butare University Teaching Hospital in the southern province of Rwanda.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 female participants aged between 17-64 years old. Conventional sampling method was used to obtain the desired population and an interviewer structured questionnaire was administered to gather social demographic information and associated risk factors. both urine and a drop of blood for HIV were requested for testing. HIV testing followed the national HIV testing policy.
Results: Among 306 women participated; the average age range was 30-40 ages. The overall prevalence of candida albicans was 10.5% and was highly isolated in HIV positive women 21(13.7%) than in HIV negative women 11(7. 2%). Pregnancy and antibiotics usage were statistically significant associated with candidiasis with p-value <0.05 while age was not statistically associated with candida albicans infection with p-value>0.05.
Conclusion: The availability and strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy to people living with HIV have tackled the opportunistic infections like candidiasis. However, poor hygiene still the major health challenge for both groups. Hence, improved hygiene and early treatment with an improved diagnostic test to the risk population should highly be importance.
Key words: Prevalence, Candida albicans infection, Butare University Teaching Hospital.