Under nutrition and Associated Factors among Adult Individuals Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Health Facilities of Nekemte Town, Eastern Ethiopia

HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem affecting both developed and developing countries. As HIV progressively damages immune system cells, the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, resulting in difficulty in fighting off HIV, infection. Malnutrition and infection are interlinked and exacerbate one another effect in a vicious cycle. Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from April, to May, 2017 in Nekemte Referral Hospital and Health Centers. A total of 295 adults receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. The data was entered by Epi-Info version 3.5.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.Weight and Height measurements were taken to determine BMI. Odds ratio (AOR) along with 95%CI was estimated to measure the strength of association at P value ≤0.05.A total of 295 participants (64.7% female and 35.3% male) were included in the study. The mean (+s.d) age was 33.9 + 8.2 years. The overall prevalence of underweight was 24% (95% CI: 21.2- 29.7%) of which 15% 6% and 3% were mildly, moderately, and severely malnourished, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of under nutrition was higher among females (AOR=2.4, 95 % CI: 1.73, 5.18), among those who had eating difficulties, (AOR=3.2, 95 % CI: 1.24, 6.41) on ARV drugs < 12months (AOR = 2.7, 95 % CI: 1.26, 3.57), and WHO stage III and IV (AOR = 2.47, 95 % CI: 1.22, 4. 88). Prevalence of under nutrition among HIV positive adults was higher. Furthermore, Sex of respondent, eating difficulty, duration of ART, and clinical stage three and four were the significant predictors to under nutrition. HIV related symptoms and eating difficulty should be prevented and treated as early as possible. There is a need to routinely screen PLWHA for the risk of developing under nutrition to facilitate early detection and intervention. Keywords: Adult, ART, HIV, Malnutrition, Nutritional Status