Nutritional status of HIV-positive individuals on free HAART treatment in a developing nation.
BACKGROUND
HIV positive individuals are prone to malnutrition due to inadequate dietary intake. Additionally, in low-income countries, including Nigeria, stigmatization and discrimination result in a lack of support for HIV-positive individuals ultimately contributing to even further reduced food availability and inadequate dietary intake. This study aimed to determine the nutrirional status of HIV-positive individuals on free, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Abakaliki, southeast Nigeria.


METHODS
Subjective global assessment (SGA) technique was used to survey the nutritional status of 120 HIV-positive individuals and a control group over a one-year period.


RESULTS
All the HIV-positive individuals and their control group were physically active, with a third of them belonging to the lower socioeconomic status. There were significantly more malnourished individuals among the HIV-positive group than in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition is common among HIV-positive patients in southeast Nigeria.
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. samnobis@yahoo.co.uk
Samuel Nnamdi
SN
Obi
Ngozi Appolonia
NA
Ifebunandu
Azubuike K
AK
Onyebuchi
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009752:Nutritional Status; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents