Virology & Mycology
Open Access

Abstract

Under Nutrition and Associated Factors among Adult HIV/AIDS Patients Enrolled on ART at Public Health Facilities of Western Ethiopia

Fantahun Guteta and Gemechu Kejela*

Background: HIV/AIDS and malnutrition effects are interrelated and exacerbate one another in a vicious cycle. HIV specifically affects nutritional status by increasing energy requirements, reducing food intake, and adversely affecting nutrient absorption and metabolism. In Ethiopia, the number of People Living with HIV ever enrolled in ART increases significantly.

Objective: The main aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of under nutrition and associated factors among adult HIV/AIDS patients enrolled on ART at public Health facilities of western Ethiopia.

Methods: Institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 adult HIV/AIDS patients enrolled on AR in public health facilities of western Ethiopia from January 1-10/2018 by using a systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected by using structured Interviewer administered questionnaire. After collection, checked data was entered into Epi data Version 3.1 and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics were performed and presented as frequencies and percentages. Binary logistic regression was conducted to select the candidate variables for the final model. Then variables with a p-value <0.3 at binary logistic regression were interred into multivariable logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-value <0.05 in the final model were considered as statistically significant predictors of the outcome variable. The result was presented by using tables and charts.

Results: Among 278(100%) study participants, 97(34.9%) were undernourished. Multivariate analysis indicated that; patients with dietary counseling were 46% (AOR [95% CI]=0.54[0.324, 0.901]) less likely to be malnourished compared to those who are not counseled. Also, patients with a CD4 count of <200 cell/μl were more than three and half times (AOR [95%CI=3.643(1.533, 8.654]) more likely to become malnourished compared to those with a CD4 count of >500 cell/μl.

Conclusion: The prevalence of under-nutrition among adult HIV/AIDS patients enrolled on ART was high. Therefore, a nutritional intervention plan in collaboration with different stakeholders to effectively address the nutritional conditions of HIV/AIDS patients enrolled on ART is needed.

Published Date: 2021-11-10; Received Date: 2021-10-20