Gizaw AB, Gebremichael AE and Kebede DB
Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic, since its first recognition has caused serious socio-economic problems especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to different reasons HIV and malnutrition are directly or indirectly linked to each other. HIV infection by itself induces malnutrition and reversely malnutrition exacerbates the disease progression. The main goal of this study was to assess the level of malnutrition and its determining factors among adult people living with HIV/AIDS and receiving anti-retroviral therapy.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to March 30/2017 to assess the level of malnutrition. The study participants were selected using simple random sampling method. A total of 337 participants were included. Descriptive statistics and chi-Square test was done to describe and identify factors associated with malnutrition among people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Result: The study showed that 43% of the study participants were malnourished. Monthly income, educational status and WHO staging at initiation of antiretroviral therapy were identified as significantly associated with malnutrition in this study.
Conclusion: Malnutrition among patients living with HIV at organization for social service health development was high and the major risk factors for malnutrition was found to be low monthly income, educational status and WHO staging of antiretroviral therapy initiation.