Dietary diversity and associated factors among HIV positive adults attending antiretroviral therapy clinics.

Authors

  • Dr. Yadessa Tegene School of Public Health, College of Medicne and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
  • Kebede Tefera School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
  • Mekdes Redi Hawassa comprehensive specialized Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa
  • Alemayehu Toma School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Dietary Diversity, adult HIV patients, Antiretroviral Therapy, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: People Living with HIV are more likely to become malnourished due to reduced food intake, poor absorption of nutrients, and changes in the way the body uses nutrients it receives or has stored. Ethiopia is among the seriously affected countries in sub–Saharan Africa with more than 1.3 million people living with HIV. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and associated factors of dietary diversity among adult HIV positives attending   antiretroviral therapy clinics in Hawassa comprehensive specialized Hospital and Yirgalem General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.

Method: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to June, 2022.  A total of 345 HIV patients attending ART clinic in Hawassa University comprehensive Specialize Hospital and Yirgalem General Hospital. Data were collected by six trained nurses using pre tested structured questionnaires and from patients’ medical record. Data entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with self-dietary diversity and significance declared at p-value ≤ 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the study participants was 39.5 (±9.02) years and most of them were female (61%). The prevalence of low dietary diversity was found to be 46.7%. Dietary diversity was statistically significantly associated with high income level [AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: (0.28, 0.83)], BMI [AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.07, 0.55)] and nutritional counseling service [AOR = 7.89, 95% CI: (4.41, 14.15)].

Conclusion and recommendation: The findings indicate that adult HIV patients experience low dietary diversity. Factors such as income level, body mass index, and access to nutritional counseling significantly influence dietary diversity. It is imperative for the government and relevant stakeholders to enhance income-generating opportunities. Additionally, healthcare professionals at antiretroviral therapy clinics should intensify their nutritional counseling efforts to support improved dietary practices among adult HIV patients.

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Published

2025-03-27

How to Cite

Tegene, D. Y., Kebede Tefera, Mekdes Redi, & Alemayehu Toma. (2025). Dietary diversity and associated factors among HIV positive adults attending antiretroviral therapy clinics. Ethiopian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 4(1), 346-355. Retrieved from https://journals.hu.edu.et/hu-journals/index.php/ejmhs/article/view/1310