Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors among Adults Attending Anti-Retroviral Therapy at Three Selected Hospitals In Bushenyj District, Uganda
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Date
2018-11
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Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: Malnutrition is a life-threatening condition among HIV positive adults and little is known about its patterns and associated factors in Southwestern Uganda. The aim of the study was to assess malnutrition and associated factors among HIV-positive adults in Bushenyi district,
Uganda Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted at three selected hospitals handling HIV patients in Bushenyi district. A total of 253 participants were enrolled in the study and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data while a review of patient records was conducted on CD4 count. Malnutrition was diagnosed by using the body mass index (BMI) and multiple logistic regression was conducted using SPSS Version 20 and significance was reported at 95% confidence interval in the presence of under and over nutrition to identify risk ~actors.
Results and Discussion: The mean age of the study participants was 33.4 years (range: 23.6- 57.6 years: median: 30 years), 48.6% of the participants had their age in the range of18— 54 yrs. The study established an overall malnutrition prevalence of 34.8%, and this mainly due to over malnutrition. Socio-economic factors associated with under nutrition were being illiterate, alcoholic and unemployed while over nutrition was associated with the educated, employed in females. In addition, under nutrition was associated with having opportunistic infections, due to one liability to pay for medications, low adherence to HAART and in stage 1 of HIV/AIDS while very nutrition was associated with employed patients, and those who would afford to pay for the reeducation. Nutritional factors associated with under nutrition were eating fewer meals and carbohydrates while over nutrition were associated with eating three meals a day and mainly protein. ~conclusions Malnutrition is a threat in adult HIV patients in rural communities of Uganda. Under nutrition was associated with low socio-economic status which leads to poor nutritional and health options, while over nutrition was associated with a higher socio-economic status lowing a need to improve on HIV community extension activities to improve on patient outcomes in this community
Description
A Research Dissertation Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements for the Award of the Degree Of Master of Science in Public Health Of Kampala International University
Keywords
Malnutrition, Anti-Retroviral Therapy