Under-nutrition and associated factors among children on ART in Southern Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

Chalie Marew Tiruneh,Amsalu Belete,Tadele Lankrew,Tigabu Desie Emiru,Moges Wubneh Abate,Adane Birhanu Nigat,Kirubel Eshetu,Belete Gelaw Walle,Eyasu Alem,Nigusie Selomon Tibebu

doi:10.1186/s13052-021-01154-w

Chalie Marew Tiruneh, Amsalu Belete + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-021-01154-w

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Abstract

BackgroundMalnutrition is very common in HIV-infected individuals. Even though data from different settings are necessary to tackle it, pieces of evidence are limited especially in the case of the nutritional status of HIV-infected children. Hence, this study aims to assess the nutritional status and associated factors among children on antiretroviral therapy.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 HIV-positive children in Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometry measurement. Data were coded and entered into Epi-Data Version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 25. Bi-variable and multi-variable binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with nutritional status and variables with p-values <0.05 in multi-variable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of wasting among HIV-positive children in Southern Ethiopiaselected Hospitals was 36.3% (95% CI, 31.6–41.0) while stunting on the same study population was 5.5% (95% CI, 3.4–7.8). Rural residence, lack of maternal education, low CD4 counts (< 500), using an unprotected water source, having a non-biological mother and recurrent oral lesion were significantly associated with wasting. Furthermore, history of hospital admission, recurrent oral lesion, low CD4 counts (< 500), advanced WHO clinical stage were statically associated with stunting with p-value < 0.05.ConclusionThis study found that the prevalence of under-nutrition among HIV-positive children in Ethiopia was significantly high. Therefore, timely identification and monitoring of nutritional problems should be necessary to enhance the effectiveness of ART treatment and to prevent further related complications.

Highlights

Malnutrition is very common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals
HIV-positive children who have recurrent oral lesions were about four times more likely (AOR = 3.932; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.094–14.126) to have stunting than those who did not complain of Discussion Malnutrition is very common in HIV-infected individuals by affecting food intake, altering digestion and absorption, altering metabolism, and increasing energy needs
The present study revealed that the magnitude of stunting among the pediatric age group living with HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was 5.5%(95% CI = 3.4–7.8)

Summary

Introduction

Malnutrition is very common in HIV-infected individuals. Even though data from different settings are necessary to tackle it, pieces of evidence are limited especially in the case of the nutritional status of HIV-infected children. The pandemic of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the major public health problems and is associated with a range of long and short-term consequences [1]. At the end of 2019, approximately 38.0 million people were living with HIV globally, of which 1.8 million were children (age 0–14 years) [2]. By the end of 2018, an estimated 56,514 children under the age of 15 were living with HIV, of which, around 2994 were newly infected with HIV [3]. Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) infection and malnutrition often coexist, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality [5]. Children living with the human immunodeficiency virus (CLHIV) are physically stunted and underweight compared to non-infected children [6]

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