ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the nutritional status, knowledge, attitude and practices of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending special treatment centre (STC) in National Hospital Abuja. A cross sectional study design was carried out in the STC and a total of two hundred and seventy (270 [150 male and 120 female]) PLWHA were used for the study. The PLWHA attend STC once in 2months and the subjects were grouped into 16 giving 4 groups per week since the centre runs Monday through Thursday weekly and by 2months, there were altogether 32groups. Nine (9) subjects (5 males and 4 females) per group were recruited using simple random sampling by balloting without replacement (Yes/No) to select the number required for the study in each day of visit. A structured questionnaire was used to collect background information, socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of nutrition of PLWHA. Anthropometric measurement (weight, height and triceps) and biochemical parameters (haemoglobin and CD4+ count) were carried out. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and regression analysis. The result revealed that 44.2% of the subjects had tertiary education, 40.2% were civil servants, while 34.8% earned less than N10,000 monthly. Less than half (41.1%) had poor knowledge of nutrition, 29.1% had both fair and good knowledge while very few (0.7%) had an excellent knowledge, however, more than half (52.8%) had a positive attitude of nutrition. 52.7% and 43.1% of PLWHA were asymptomatic and symptomatic, respectively, while most (66.5%) were moderately anaemic and their skinfold status showed that 56.0% were malnourished. Socioeconomic characteristics had a significant (P<0.01) influence on their nutritional status, which revealed that low education and being self-employed had a significant (P<0.01) influence on the CD4+ count of PLWHA. Furthermore, gender (being female) and age (being young) had a significant (P<0.01) influence on their BMI, while only being female significantly (P<0.01) influenced the skinfold thickness of the PLWHA. Self-employment and being female were the strongest (P<0.01) positive predictors of nutrition knowledge, while their attitude of nutrition was significantly (P<0.01) predicted by being female, however, low education and being single had a negative influence on the attitude of the PLWHA towards nutrition. Therefore, good nutrition knowledge with proper education, occupation (good paying job) and high income are important tools which when in place and sustained will promote a healthy people living with HIV, thereby leading to a healthy nation.