Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to be a major public health problem worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected by the epidemic [1] . Nearly two million cases of HIV infection were reported in 2015 [1] .

In 2000, the United Nations Millennium Development Declaration aimed to assist Member States in optimizing the use of traditional medicines to contribute to the establishment of a “Health for All in the 21^st century” in the Africa region [2] . Since then, different countries have examined the impact of Traditional Medicine in terms of prevention and care for various pathologies, including the HIV infection [2] .

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the prevalence of HIV infection is 1.2% for the country as a whole [3] . Since 2002, Anti Retro Virals (ARVs) have been introduced in the DRC for monitoring of people living with HIV (PLHIV) [4] . The goal of this treatment is to reduce morbidity and mortality, achieve and maintain plasma viral suppression, improve immune function and quality of life [4] . Nevertheless, the coverage of these ARVs is still very low across the country; it was less than 20% for the year 2015 [3] . Hence, a large number of PLHIVs use traditional herbal treatments for HIV infection, as well as associated opportunistic infections [5] . These traditional treatments are very commonly used in the fight against HIV infection in our environment, but there is no scientific data and evidence in our community.

Hence the objective of this work was to evaluate the clinical, paraclinical and sociodemographic parameters of HIV positive patients followed by Traditional Medicine in the beginning of treatment as well as to bring the necessary knowledge in the care of the PLHIV followed by this medicine in Kinshasa, DRC.

Of the 97 patients included in this work, 79 (81%) were female and 18 (19%) male. The average age was 40.8 ± 10 years and the most represented age group was between 36 - 45 years old. The average Body Mass Index (BMI) is 23.08 ± 3.8 at baseline. Most patients (67%) started treatment with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Almost all patients (93%) started treatment in Clinical Stage II according to the WHO classification. Table 1 presents the anthropometric and clinical data of the population. Almost half of the population (46%) is married and 43% are housewives. The highest level of education is high school with 69%. Most patients (77%) attend revival churches or sects. The first reasons that favored adherence to Traditional Treatment were: 1) the testimony of other patients treated in the center (16%), 2) the need for healing (14%), 3) advice from friends (14%) and 4) curiosity (14%). Table 2 presents the clinical parameters. The mean values of the biological parameters are respectively: Glycemia 84.95 ± 19.08 mg/dl; Urea 22.47 ± 6.66 mg/dl; Creatinine 0.88 ± 0.26 mg/dl; Total Cholesterol 169.6 ± 37.74 mg/dl; HDL 52.75 ± 15.13 mg/dl; LDL 96.4 ± 31.45 mg/dl (Table 3); Triglyceride 102.8 ± 46.92 mg/dl; SGPT 23.35 ± 11.11 IU/L; SGOT 22.34 ± 10.85 IU/L; Amylase 81.89 ± 31.14 IU/L. The median values of CD4 and CV are respectively 220 cells/ml and 4.10 log₁₀ copies of RNA/ml. All paraclinical data are presented explicitly in Table 4.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the clinical, paraclinical and sociodemographic parameters of HIV positive patients followed by Traditional Medicine at the beginning of treatment as well as to bring the necessary knowledge in the management of PVV followed by this medicine in Kinshasa.

The population consisted of 97 patients including 79 women and 18 men, with a sex ratio of 4/1 for women. The most represented age group is between 36 - 45 years with 45% of cases and an average of 40.79 ± 10.07 years. The female predominance corresponds with the data of the literature in our environment [3] - [8] ; which stated that HIV infection tends to feminize in sub-Saharan African countries for various reasons. As well as for the age group that is the one where sexual activity is most intense but also because at this age the person tends to become aware of life and become responsible.

Ninety-three percent (93%) of patients started their treatment in clinical stage 2 according to the WHO classification. The average weight was 62.70 ± 11.44 kg and the average BMI was 23.08 ± 3.79. These data demonstrate that patients become better aware of the importance of initiating early treatment that involves a favorable therapeutic response for patients.

Nearly half of the patients are married (47%), followed by single (31%) and widowed (16%). Forty-two percent (42%) of this population are housewives, 18% are unemployed, 14% are shopkeepers and 8% are nurses. These data correspond to those published by other authors of our environment [7] [8] .

The highest level of education is secondary education (high school) with 69% of the total population, 16% having a university level and 9% having a primary school level. Educational attainment also influences reproductive behavior, use of modern contraception, health behavior, and hygiene and nutrition habits. This reveals that all social levels are affected by HIV infection regardless of the level of education of the population [7] .

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the population attend so-called revival churches; 13% are Catholic; 7% are Protestant and 3% are Muslim. This corroborates with the literature data reported in our medium [3] .

The majority of patients adhered to traditional treatments because of the testimony of others who, for many, were also followed previously in the same Tradi-modern center, but also by the need to be cured of HIV infection and this is explained by the fact that most patients need a definitive cure in the short term and not a long-term treatment that discourages and depresses as is the case with ARVs.

The mean value of the blood glucose was 84.95 ± 19.08 mg/dl. This value is in the interval according to the standards (60 - 110 mg/dl) [9] . This data is justified by initiating treatment early in clinical stage 2. It is contrary to other data collected in the cohorts of patients who start treatment in clinical stage 3 or 4 [7] [8] .

The mean values of urea and creatinine were 22.47 ± 6.66 mg/dL and 0.88 ± 0.22 mg/dL, respectively. These values are in the respective ranges according to the standards (15 - 45 mg/dl and 0.5 - 1.5 mg/dl) [9] . These data may also be justified by initiating treatment early in clinical stage 2. Indeed, at this stage, the clinical signs are not serious. These data are also contrary to other data collected in the cohorts of patients who begin treatment at clinical stage 3 or 4 [7] [8] .

The mean value of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride were 169.60 ± 37.74 mg/dL, 52.75 ± 15.13 mg/dL, 96.4 ± 31.35 mg/dL and 102.8 ± 46.92 mg/dL, respectively. These values are in the respective ranges according to the standards (110 - 200 mg/dl, 30 - 70 mg/dl, ≤ 160 mg/dl and 35 - 185 mg/dl) [9] . These data may also be justified by initiating treatment early in clinical stage 2. They corroborate those later published in our setting even for patients who begin treatment in clinical stage 3 or 4 [7] [8] [10] .

Mean transaminase values, SGPT and SGOT, were 23.35 ± 11.11 IU/L and 22.34 ± 10.85 IU/L, respectively. Although close to the upper limits, these values are in the respective intervals according to the norms (0 - 31 UI/L and 0 - 41 UI/L) [9] .

The average value of the amylase was 81.89 ± 31.14 IU/L. This value tends towards the upper limit of the interval according to the norms (0 - 95 UI/L) [9] .

The median CD4 count was 220 cells/ml with extremes of 18 and 405 cells/ml. These low values classify patients in this cohort as eligible for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in our setting compared to the national recommendations. Low CD4 values are also described in the literature for patients initiating ART in our environment [6] .

The median Viral Load (VL) value was 4.10 log₁₀ RNA copies/ml with extremes of 2.16 log₁₀ and 7.23 log₁₀ RNA copies/ml. These high VL scores rank these patients as ART eligible in our community according to national guidelines. High VL values confirm that patients start treatment often late; they corroborate the literature for patients initiating ART in our environment [6] .

This work has shown that patients who adhere to traditional medicine for the treatment of HIV infection are no different from those initiating antiretrovirals in modern centers. All these patients have the same profile as they initiate ARV in modern centers or traditional treatment. Hence, the patients followed by traditional medicine must be considered and taken care of integrally as all the PLHIV followed by modern medicine while avoiding all forms of discrimination and rejection of them by the modern medicine as well as by the community or the society where they are.

The authors declare that there was no conflict of interest.

Bulanda, B.I., Kateba, E.T., Bongenia, B.I., Kasongo, V.N., Kingombe, M.A. and Kamangu, E.N. (2018) Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Profile of Positive HIV Patients in Early Traditional Treatment: Case of the Bonkoko Center. Open Access Library Journal, 5: e4555. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104555