Abstract
Background: Nutrition is the main foundation for health and development of the human being. HIV infection increases nutrient requirements and at the same time impairs nutrient intake and absorption. Poor nutrition increases the risk of opportunistic infections, further increasing energy and nutrient needs, thus accelerating the progression of HIV to AIDS. Study Population: Newly enrolled HIV- infected adult patients. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of under nutrition among newly enrolled HIV-infected adults attending the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare clinic (AMPATH). Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 288 consecutively enrolled subjects. The prevalence of under nutrition was determined based on the World Health Organization recommended BMI cut- off points. The contents of 24-hour recalls were entered into a nutrient calculator to determine the nutrient content and compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance in order to determine adequacy of food. Results: Of the 288 respondents in the study, 153 (54.4%) were female. For males and females the mean± (SD) daily energy and protein intakes were 1856± (536.8) Kcal/day, 1680± (517.3) kcal/day, 62.4± (20.7) g/day and 53.1± (17) g/day respectively. Folate, zinc, iron and vitamin A were significantly below the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). Adjusting for energy and protein intake, those with adequate Folate intake had 88.9% lower chances of being-nourished (OR=.111, 95%CI 0.013, 0.973). Conclusion: Prevalence of under nutrition in the study population shows that 31.6% of subjects had inadequate Folate and Zinc intakes. Folate intake was a significant predictor of under-nutrition. It was recommended that patient health education on the need to consume foods rich in Folate and Zinc should be intensified in all the ambulatory clinics.
Highlights
The first case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was reported in the United States of America in 1981 and in Kenya in 1984
AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is transmitted through sexual contact, infected blood, blood products or transplanted organs or tissues, and from an infected mother to a child
Under nutrition among People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) manifests itself most commonly as weight loss in adults and children, and faltered linear growth in children, as a result of deficiency in specific macro or Science Journal of Public Health 2018; 6(1): 26-34 micronutrients
Summary
The first case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was reported in the United States of America in 1981 and in Kenya in 1984. Food insecurity is a major cause of vulnerability to HIV, the need to invest in nutrition in order to break the vicious cycle between food insecurity and HIV vulnerability we investigate the prevalence and associated factors to under nutrition among newly enrolled HIV adults attending the AMPATH clinic. Study Population: Newly enrolled HIV- infected adult patients. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of under nutrition among newly enrolled HIV-infected adults attending the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare clinic (AMPATH). Conclusion: Prevalence of under nutrition in the study population shows that 31.6% of subjects had inadequate Folate and Zinc intakes. It was recommended that patient health education on the need to consume foods rich in Folate and Zinc should be intensified in all the ambulatory clinics
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