Prevalence of Malnutrition among HIV Infected Children under Five at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: The need for adequate nutrition for early childhood development cannot be overemphasized. This is because the provision of ample nutrition for infants facilitates healthy growth, proper organ formation and functioning, a strong immune system, as well as neurological and cognitive development. Ensuring good nutrition among HIV infected children over the years has been a huge public health concern. This study aimed determine the prevalence of malnutrition among HIV infected children under five years at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition with its associated factors among HIV-infected children under five years. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey involving HIV infected children under 5 and their care givers who are receiving treatment at KATH. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from caretakers of children U5 that are receiving care at the Paediatric Ward at KATH. Results and conclusions: A total of 105 children aged 6 to 59 months participated in the study. The majority (62%) of the respondents were malnourished based on their age-for-height z-score despite 83.8% of the patients having no identifiable clinical signs or symptoms of malnutrition. 43.8%) of respondents were severely malnourished, 9.5% were moderate and 8.6% , mild. With the aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among HIV-infected children under five as well as determine associated factors and extent of nutritional support, children whose caregivers had only primary education had a 95% higher odds of being malnourished (p<0.05) compared to those with no education. This study also found several associated factors to be associated with the development of severe acute malnutrition. Also, most (92.4%) of the participants had support from family.