Abstract:
Background: In resource limited settings, many human immune deficiency virus infected
individuals lack access to sufficient quantities of nutritious foods, which poses additional
challenges to the success of antiretroviral therapy. Morbidity and mortality related to human
immune deficiency virus infection in the developing world remain unacceptably high,
despite major advances in human immune deficiency virus therapy and increased
international funding for care. The major contributing factor is malnutrition.
Objective: To determine magnitude of malnutrition (body mass index < 18.5kg/m2) and
associated factors among adult people on antiretroviral therapy at antiretroviral therapy
clinics of Hosanna town.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 20 to
April30, 2014 on 340 adult people on antiretroviral therapy at antiretroviral therapy clinics
of Hosanna town. Sample clients were selected by simple random sampling technique.
Data were collected by face to face interview using structured pretested questionnaire,
record review using check list and anthropometric measurements. Bi-variate analysis and
multivariable logistic regression models were done using SPSS version 16 to identify factors
associated with malnutrition.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of malnutrition with (BMI < 18.5kg/m2) in this study was
31.2 %.Household food insecurity (AOR= 2.51, 95% CI: 1.31- 4.81), inadequate diversified
diet (AOR= 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23- 0.84),low meal frequency(AOR= 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11-
0.76), clinical staging four (AOR= 5.23, 95% CI: 1.42- 19.35), clinical staging three
(AOR=3.91, 95% CI: 1.57, 9.73), presence of opportunistic infections (AOR= 2.62, 95% CI:
1.49- 4.59) and nutritional support(AOR= 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23- 0.89) were independent
predictors of malnutrition.
Conclusion: Malnutrition (BMI < 18.5kg/m2) was high in adult people on antiretroviral
therapy at antiretroviral therapy clinics of Hossana town. Only antiretroviral therapy is not
enough to improve the health status of people on HAART. Further, intervention initiatives
should focus on improving household food security, diversity of diet, meal frequency,
clinical staging and prevention and control of opportunistic infections in adult HIV infected
individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.