Background Recent high level of mortality among patients both on clinical care and on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has been blamed on late reporting of patients to Hospitals. The study determined the CD4 lymphocytes count levels of HIV positive patient at first presentation at STI/HIV Clinic at Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods This retrospective study reviewed clinical records of 883 positive patients, who reported for treatment at the Suntreso Hospital for the first time within January 2010 to December 2011. The date of first reporting and the level of first CD4 counts were recorded. Socio demographic information was also recorded. Data was analysed using SPSS 16.

Results More than half (54.9%, 485/883) of all HIV positive patients presented with CD4 count of less than 250 cells/mm3. 20.7% (183/883) reported with CD4 count less than 50 cell/mm3, 9.5% (84/883) with CD4 count of less than 100 cells/mm3, 24.7% (218/883) with CD4 count of less than 250 cells/mm3, 16.0% (141/883) with CD4 count of less than 350 cells/mm3, 10.3% (91/883) with CD4 count of less than 500. Less than a quarter (18.8%, 116/883) of patients came with CD4 count of 500 cells/mm3 or more. 70.9% came with CD4 count of less than 350 cells/mm3.

Conclusion Patients with HIV infection present late at the HIV clinic at Suntreso Government Hospital. Further study is needed to determine the causes for late presenting at the HIV clinic and address them, since this may account for high mortality among HIV positive patients accessing care.