Pilot Study - Impact of Multifaceted Interventional Package to Address the Dietary Pattern, Nutritional Status & Psychosocial Wellbeing among Children Infected with HIV/AIDS in Bagalkot, Karnataka

Abstract

Background of the study: HIV-infection and malnutrition are strongly linked for many years, the most common malnutrition form observed among HIV-infected children and adolescents worldwide was the acute malnutrition or wasting syndrome, characterized by significant decrease in body fat, and lean and bone mass, that was accompanied by growth retardation.1 Diet plays a crucial role in the immune system of HIV/AIDS patients, as sufficient amounts of macro- and micronutrients are essential for its normal functioning, whereas psychosocial wellbeing has been found to improve the mental ability in HIV-infected children. Therefore, adherence to a healthy diet and achieving an optimal psychosocial wellbeing from the early to advanced stages of HIV infection in this population is essential in order to maintain a good nutritional status, quality of life and self esteem to optimize health outcomes and to prevent future chronic complications. 2 Aims: The aim of the study was to assess impact of multifaceted interventional package on dietary pattern, nutritional status and psychosocial wellbeing among children infected with HIV/AIDS. Objectives: To assess the dietary pattern, nutritional status & psycho-social well being of children To find out the effectiveness of multi-faceted interventional package on dietary pattern, nutritional status & psycho-social well being of children To find out the association between dietary pattern, , nutritional status & psycho-social well being with selected socio-demographic variables To identify the correlation between dietary pattern with nutritional status & psycho-social well being of children To find out the correlation between nutritional status & psycho-social well being of children Methodology: A true experimental research study was conducted to assess the impact of multifaceted interventional package on dietary pattern, nutritional status and psychosocial wellbeing among children infected with HIV/AIDS. 20 children aged between 8-17 years attending Taluka ART Center Hungund, Dist Bagalkot has been selected for the study. Disproportionate stratified random sampling technique was used. Data was collected by using the following tools rating scale for dietary pattern, electronic weighing scale for weight, height measurement board for measuring height and Shakir’s tape for MUAC. Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDsQL 4.0) were used to assess the self esteem and quality of life of children. Interventions used in the study are nutrition training intervention and life-skill training programme. Mann Whitney’s U test was used to find the effectiveness of intervention, Spearman’s Rank order Correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between variables and frequency, Percentage distribution were used to describe the variables under the study Results: The mean pre post test score of children in experimental group was 29.2 + 4.26 which increased to 34.6 + 3.41in post test whereas the mean pre-test score of control group was 29.9 + 3.6 which increased to 30.8 + 3.77 in post-test. The Mann Whitney U value was 2 and P Value <0.000, which shows that the Nutritional training intervention was effective in improving the dietary pattern of children with HIV/AIDS. Hence the alternative hypothesis the post test dietary pattern scores will be significantly higher than pre-test scores in experimental group than control group was accepted. Spearman’s Rank order correlation coefficient was used to calculate the correlation between dietary pattern and self-esteem of children with HIV/AIDS. A moderate positive correlation (R= 0.300) was found between Dietary pattern and self-esteem of children. Conclusion: The pilot study revealed that both the nutritional training intervention and life-skill training programme are effective in improving the nutritional status, self esteem & quality of life of children with HIV/AIDS. A strong positive correlation (R= 0.85) was found between self esteem and Nutritional status of children. . A strong positive correlation (R= 0.76) was found between quality of life and nutritional status of children. it is also revealed that tools used in the study are highly reliable and the study is feasible and practicable. Further-it will be examined in the main research study with large sample size. Keywords: Impact, Multifaceted Interventional package, effectiveness, HIV children, Self esteem, quality of life, dietary pattern, nutritional status, nutritional training intervention, psycho-social wellbeing, ART center.