Food consumption and nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): a case of Thika and Bungoma Districts, Kenya
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Date
2009
Authors
Kuria, Elizabeth Nafula
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
Objective: To establish the food consumption, dietary habits and nutritional status
of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and adults whose HIV status is not
established.
Design: Cross-sectional descriptive survey.
Setting: Thika and Bungoma Districts, Kenya.
Subjects: A random sample of 439 adults; 174 adults living with HIV/AIDS and
265 adults whose HIV/AIDS status was not established in Thika and Bungoma
Districts.
Results: Majority of PLWHA consume foods that are low in nutrients to build up
the immune system and help maintain adequate weight, and there is little variety
in the foods they consume. More adults who are HIV-positive are undernourished
than those whose status is not established. Of the HIV-positive adults, those with
a BMI of #18?5 kg/m2 were 23?6% (Thika 20?0% and Bungoma 25?7%) while of
the adults whose status is not established those with BMI#18?5 kg/m2 were
13?9% (Thika 9?3% and Bungoma 16?7 %).
Conclusions: Adults who are HIV-positive are more likely to be undernourished
than those whose status is not established, as there is a significant difference
(P50?000) between the nutritional status (BMI) of PLWHA and those whose HIV/
AIDS status is not established. PLWHA consume foods that are low in nutrients to
promote their nutritional well-being and health.
Description
Research Paper
Keywords
Food consumption, Nutritional status, People living with HIV/AIDS
Citation
Public Health Nutrition: 13(4), 475–479 doi:10.1017/S 1368980009990826