Assessment of nutritional status of adolescents living with HIV receiving care at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2012
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Malnutrition is a major threat to the health of HIV infected individuals and is associated with
increased risks of morbidity and mortality.
Objective; the objective of the study was to assess the nutritional status and associated factors
among adolescents living with HIV enrolled at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Facility based across-sectional study was conducted between February and April
2016.Data were collected on 340 adolescents aged 10-19 years attending government public
hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Nutritional status was assessed using BMI-for-Age (BAZ) and Height-for-age (HAZ) as
measures of thinness and stunting respectively. Standard deviation (SD) scores (Z scores) were
applied to determine the nutritional status. Adolescents whose BAZ and HAZ was less than -3SD
were considered severely malnourished; those adolescent with BAZ and HAZ between -2SD and
-3SD were considered malnourished while those with BAZ and HAZ >= - 2SD were wellnourished.
Statistical analysis was done using WHO anthro plus and STATA 12. Statistical
software package.
Result: The prevalence of stunting was 37.4% [0.3218-0.425, 95% CI, with 8.2% [0.052-
0.11, 95% CI] of adolescents being severely stunted.
The risk factors for stunting included skipping of meal [(AOR: 1.74.; 95% CI:1.07- 2.83) and
primary care (AOR: 1.23.; 95% CI, 1.03.-1.47). The prevalence of thinness was 15.6 % [0.117-
0.194, 95%CI] with 2.9% [0.0113 - 0 .047, 95% CI] severely thin. The risk factors for thinness
include treatment interruption [AOR 2.78, 95% CI, 1.20- 6.43] nutrition counseling[AOR 2.05
,95 %CI,1.13- 3.72 ] and moderately household food insecurity (AORAOR1.67,95CI % 1.21-
3.21) amongadolescentsliving with the HIV enrolled at public hospitals in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
Conclusion:The prevalence of stunting and thinness was high among the HIV infected
adolescents. Skipping meal, getting primary care from relatives, nutritional counseling, and
moderately household food insecurity were significantly associated with malnutrition (stunting
and thinness).
Recommendation; Greater recognition of the substantial burden of malnutrition among
adolescents living with HIV is needed, and there is a need for more services aimed at nutrition
counseling, retention in care , nutrition interventions beyond clinical settings and economic
empowerments of adolescents living with HIV.
Key words; HIV, thinness, stunting, adolescents
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Keywords
HIV, thinness, stunting, adolescents