Background and Objectives: Anemia is an issue in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of anemia in highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve, HIV-positive subjects in Owerri, Southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of HAART-naïve HIV-positive subjects. Anthropometric and demographic data were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb) and other relevant investigations were performed. Anemia was defined, according to World Health Organization criteria, as Hb <13.0g/dl in males and Hb <12.0g/dl in females. Association of variables with anemia and the strength of variables to predict anemia were determined. Results: Mean Hb was 11.3±1.7g/dl in males and 11.1±1.9g/dl in females. Hb<13.0g/dl was present in 66.4% of males, while Hb<12.0g/dl was present in 67.8% of females. Overall, Hb≥12.0g/dl was present in 128(32.6%), Hb<12.0g/dl in 252(67.4%), Hb 11.0-12.0g/dl in 177(45.0%), Hb 8.0-10.9g/dl in 82(20.9%) and Hb<8.0g/dl in 6(1.5%) of the HIV subjects. Body mass index (BMI) and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cells count predicted hemoglobin, while underweight, BMI, CD4 cells count <200/ml, spot urine protein (SUP) and 24-hour urine protein (24HUP) predicted anemia in HIV-positive subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia was high (67.4%) in HAART-naïve HIV-positive subjects. BMI and CD4 cells count were predictors of hemoglobin in HIV-positive subjects. CD4 cells count <200, underweight, BMI, 24HUP and SUP were predictors of anemia in HAART-naïve HIV-positive subjects. Abnormalities of weight changes and renal function were common in HAART-naïve HIV-positive subjects who were anemic in Owerri, Southeast Nigeria. Anemic HAART-naïve HIV-positive subjects should be evaluated at the early stages of the infection for underweight and renal damage.

HIV subjects, anemia, prevalence, risk factors, Nigeria