Abstract:

Background:Malnutrition on the background of HIV (Human immunodeficiency Virus) infection is a complex medical condition that carries significant morbidity and mortality for affected children,with greater mortality from severe acute malnutrition among HIV-positive children than their HIV-negative counterparts.HIV-induced immune impairment increases risk of opportunistic infection and can worsen nutritional status of children.HIV infection often leads to nutritional deficiencies through decreased food intake,malabsorption and increased utilization and excretion of nutrients which in turn can hasten death.

Objectives:the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors among HIV-infected children aged 6-18 years at Baylor children Hospital. This was tohelp to fill in for the knowledge gaps on the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition among HIV-infected aged 6-18 years and identifying factors associated with malnutrition which will inform the pediatric HIV care settings on the appropriate interventions so as to reduce the associated childhood morbidity and mortality.

Methodology:This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted amongst 198 HIV/AIDS infected children between the age of 6-18 years of age at Baylor children hospital.It was conducted by aid of anthropometric measures taken from the sample and categorized into indicators which are BMI-for-age(BAZ),Height for age(HAZ) and Weight-for-age(WAZ) expressed in Z-scores. Simple random sampling was used to collect information involving only those that meet criteria to be included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model explored associated factors with types of malnutrition. The statistical significance was declared at value < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals in the final model.

Results: The prevalence of malnutrition among HIV infected children in this study that based on wasting was found to be 33.33% with mild,moderate and severe malnutrition as 2.02%,7.07% and 24.24% respectively. Sex(AOR=0.07,95%CI 0.02-0.18),patient WHO HIV clinical staging(AOR=5.19,95%CI 0.87-31.04),nutritional education(AOR=2.74,95CI 1.06-7.12) ,mother’s/caregiver’s(AOR=11.50,95%CI 1.13-117.10) and father’s/caregiver’s occupation(AOR=3.49,95% CI 0.65-18.84) have significant association with malnutrition.

Conclusion: the prevalence of malnutrition remains high even for HIV-infected children aged 6-18 years who have not been routinely monitored for their nutritional status;therefore there’s a need for a nutritional assessment and support to be included as an integral part of improving the care plan of HIV-infected children.