Under nutrition and associated factors among women on Antiretroviral Therapy, at Yirgalem General Hospital, Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Nutritional management is a fundamental practice of concern to all patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The nature of HIV/AIDS and malnutrition impacts are interlocked and intensify one another being worsened in case of women of reproductive age. This study aimed to assess under nutrition and associated factors among women on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Yirgalem Hospital, Sidama Regional State, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was employed from March 1-31/2023. Systematic random sampling techniques used for recruitment of 268 participants. A pretested and structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, checklist, and measurements were used to collect data. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence level was used to identify determinants of under-nutrition.

Results: The prevalence of overall under nutrition (BMI <18.5k.g/m²) among women using ART was found to be 39.2%. Educational status of unable to read and write (AOR=4.72; 95%CI (1.32, 8.93), WHO’s clinical stage of AIDS (AOR=2.23(1.05-3.62) and adherence to Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy in the past six months (AOR=6.56(2.45-10.67) predicted the under nutrition of women, using ART.

Conclusion: Under-nutrition was found to be high in this study as compared to other Ethiopian environments. Educational status of women, the WHO clinical stage of AIDS and adherence to HAART have all been linked to under nutrition among women living with HIV/AIDS and attending ART. Based on our findings, we suggest that all HIV-positive adults be tested for nutritional status during antiretroviral therapy, and counseling, supplementation, and nutritional treatments be tailored to HIV-positive women with low level of education, poor ART adherence and WHO clinical stages of AIDS. Further interventional trials will be conducted to determine the impact of these factors on the treatment out- comes of HIV-positive women who are malnourished.