HIV Associated Dementia in Ethiopia

HIV dementia has been prevalent particularly in the third world and specifically in sub Saharan Africa where limited access to diagnosis treatment care and support has been common. Hence the assessment of HIV dementia in rural Ethiopia specifically in Debre Markos referral hospital is important. A cross-sectional study design with descriptive and analytical components was employed on 423 participants using systematic random sampling technique with proportional allocation. Data was collected by face to face interview observation and document review using International HIV dementia scale translated into local language (Amharic version) by trained nurses and then it was analyzed using SPSS window 20. The level of association was dealt using confidence interval and odds ratio. Despite wide spread use of therapy HIV dementia was high when compared to worldwide figure. Starting antiretroviral treatment in those who developed severe opportunistic infection and in those 50 years or older people should be considered regardless of the CD4 count.