Malnutrition amongst HIV adult patients in selected hospitals of Bushenyi district in southwestern Uganda.

Ambrose Odwee,Jude B Agaba,Keneth Iceland Kasozi,Olivia Sasirabo,Christine Amongi Acup,Pwaveno H Bamaiyi,Claude Kirimuhuzya,Robinson Ssebuufu,Patrick Kyamanywa,Danladi Makeri,Richard Obura

doi:10.4314/ahs.v20i1.17

Abstract

Malnutrition is an important clinical outcome amongst HIV patients in developing countries and in Uganda, there is scarcity of information on its prevalence and risk factors amongst HIV adult patients. A cross-sectional study amongst 253 HIV patients in Bushenyi district assessed their nutritional status using the body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and a questionnaire was used to identify major risk factors. The mean age of the study participants was 38.74 ± 0.80 yrs, while females and males were 52.2% and 47.8% respectively. Prevalence of malnutrition was 10.28% (95% CI: 6.82 - 14.69) in the study. Major socio-economic factors associated with malnutrition were being female, unemployed, dependent and with many family members. Patients with opportunistic infections, low adherence to HAART, and stage of HIV/AIDS had a higher risk of malnutrition. In rural communities, a majority of malnourished patients are elderly and these were identified as priority groups for HIV outreach campaigns. The current policy of prioritizing children and women is outdated due to changing disease dynamics, thus showing a need to revise extension service provision in rural communities. Malnutrition is a threat in HIV adult patients in rural communities of Uganda.

Highlights

Malnutrition amongst HIV/AIDS patients is a major challenge to the attainment of the sustainable development goals[1]
This emphasis on children has subsequently led to an unintentional neglect of the adult-elderly population. This is important since 8.5% (12,000) of the population in Bushenyi district is HIV positive[6,7], showing a need to revise current extension prioritization activities in several rural communities of Uganda to improve patient outcomes since a compromised immunity following HIV infection can lead to a grave prognosis once malnutriton is poorly handled[8]
The study was conducted at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH), Ishaka Adventist Hospitals and Comboni Hospital since they all have an active ART clinic and conduct extension activities in rural communities of Bushenyi district

Summary

Introduction

Malnutrition amongst HIV/AIDS patients is a major challenge to the attainment of the sustainable development goals[1]. In southwestern Uganda, malnutrition has been shown to be related to low protein intake, due to limited information on child health feeding, low socio-economic status, household size, poor hygiene and lack of special feed supplements for children[5]. This emphasis on children has subsequently led to an unintentional neglect of the adult-elderly population.

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion