Abstract:
Introduction The links between malnutrition and HIV run both ways that malnutrition predicts illness or death among people living with HIV. Integrating nutritional intervention with HIV/AIDS care is crucial and identifying its treatment outcome is important.
Objective This study aimed to assess the treatment outcome and associated factors of food by prescription among adult HIV positive individuals in Gondar University Hospital.
Methods Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from May 20 to June 10, 2015. Participants were 363 adult HIV positive individuals who had nutritional intervention with food by prescription program at Gondar University Hospital. Sampling was done by using systematic random sampling technique. Data was extracted with appropriate data extraction format from the food by prescription registration book and patient cards. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables. Analysis was carried out using Logistic regression to see the effects of independent variables on the dependent variable.
Result This study included 363 individuals with the mean age of 34.59 (SD ±8.986 years) and among those participants 87(24%) of them were recovered from malnutrition and 276(76%) were failed to recover including 25.6% of non-responders, 48.8% defaulter, and 1.7% died. Logistic regression indicates that base line nutritional status at entry (AOR= 4.466 95%CI 2.201, 9.064) and presence of opportunistic infections (AOR=0.239 95%CI 0.057, 0.998) were significantly associated with recovery from malnutrition.
Conclusion and Recommendation In this study 24% of participants were recovered from malnutrition. Base line nutritional status at entry was positively associated and presence of opportunistic infection was negatively associated with recovery. Counseling about adherence and adjusting of appointment days are important to improve the outcome of food by prescription among patients on chronic HIV care
