Abstract:

Background: HIV/AIDS has become one of the world’s most serious health and development challenges where by since the beginning of this pandemic, 76 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 33 million people have died of HIV. HIV and nutrition is the subject to be paid attention because a person infected with HIV undergoes body changes associated with both medications and the disease itself. For example, weight loss, infections, diarrhea and lipodystrophy.

Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional one conducted in BMC, Mwanza Tanzania from 1 June to 30 2021. About 376 participants were involved and data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. The goal of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on nutrition and ARV drugs uses among PL WHA.

Results and Discussion: Three hundred and seventy six (376) participants were involved in the study where by 224 (59.6%) and 152 (40.4%) were female and male respectively. The result based on knowledge among the participants 64 (17.0%) have good, 187 (49.7%) have moderate and 125 (33.2%) have poor knowledge while in term of attitude, 121 (32.2%) have negative attitude while 255 (67.8%) have positive attitude on nutrition and ARV drugs use. Also, in case of practice, 181 (48.1%) have good practice, 185 (49.2%) have moderate practice and 10 (2.7%) have poor practice on nutrition and ARV drugs use.

Conclusion: From this study majority of the participant have moderate knowledge and practice on nutrition and ARV drugs uses while majority have positive attitude on nutrition and ARV drugs uses. So from this results more should be done such frequently cancellation sessions and fall up of practices in order to raise the knowledge and practices on nutrition and ARV drugs uses among PLWHA.