Food consumption pattern and nutritional care and support for HIV and AIDS infected and non-infected children living in Kailali district of Nepal

Abstract

Background And Objectives: HIV/AIDS pandemic has been on the rise in Nepal since the first case was reported in the country in 1988. HIV/AIDS being growing problem is fueled by ignorance about nutrient requirement and brutal discrimination against people. Kailali district is one of the highly HIV and AIDS endemic districts of Nepal. Method: Analytical cross sectional study design was used to conduct a study among 75 HIV/AIDS infected and 75 non-infected children in Kailali district. Data was collected with the help of semi structured questionnaire that included a food-frequency checklist, anthropometric measurement and 24-hour dietary recall form. Result: Poor nutritional status was observed among both infected and non-infected children. A total of 47, 53 and 83% of the infected children were stunted, wasted and underweight as compared to 53, 47 and 17% for the non-infected group. Average numbers of meals consumed per day were 3.23 and 3.17 for infected and noninfected children respectively. Among HIV infected children, there was a weak positive relationship between BMI of children and monthly income of respondent which was not statistically significant (p=0.077). A moderate positive relationship between BMI of non-infected children and monthly income of respondent with statistically significant difference (p=0.000). There was no significant difference between the major components of nutritional care and support and HIV status. No statistically significant difference was observed in calorie intake, wasted, underweight, and stunted and HIV status. However, there was a significant difference (p=0.000) between HIV status of children and symptoms of nutritional implications. Conclusion: Majority of children (6-15 years) among non-infected group were underweight. In contrast, majority of infected children (1-5 years) were wasted. The mean age, weight and height of non-infected children were higher. The consumption of balanced diets was irregular. Major symptoms of nutritional implications were anorexia, nausea and vomiting, mouth/throat soar and diarrhea.