Dietary Intake Patterns and Adequacy of HIV-Infected Adults Seeking Clinical Care in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Although access to highly active antiretroviral therapy has expanded rapidly and led to effective reduction in HIV/AIDS related morbidities and mortalities, inadequate dietary intake and food insecurity are barriers to the success of the therapy. Few studies have reported on the association between dietary intake coupled with food security and HIV in Ghana. This study describes dietary practices of HIV-infected adults on ART in Ghana. The study collected data on demographic characteristics and 24-hour dietary recall. The Statistical Package for the Social Science Sciences (SPSS) was used to summarize socio- demographic characteristics and dietary intake patterns of respondents into frequencies and proportions. The Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA) Household Dietary Diversity Score version 2 was used as basis for describing dietary diversity of respondents, while the quality of diet based on the nutritive values of food consumed by respondents was determined by using ESHA FPRO version 10.0.1. In the case of the adequacy of nutrient intake, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values were employed as reference in the analysis. The findings indicated that lunch was commonly skipped, about 20% of the respondents ate less than 3 meals per day and 16% had low diverse diets. Total daily mean nutrient intakes among the respondents were: calories (2190.1±969.67), (69.80±45.94), carbohydrates vitamin (315.34±166.42), A (707.46±1735.90), proteins vitamin C (79.18±39.16), fats (88.21±123.45), iron (19.93±14.75), folate (130.55±135.37), iodine (19.59±27.94) and zinc (1.86±1.67). Mean nutrients intakes were compared with the RDA to determine their levels of intake. The mean intake of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron were adequate whiles that of fats, folate, iodine and zinc were low. Except for proteins (26%) and iron (41%), the majority of the respondents had high inadequate intake of calories (62%), carbohydrates (61%), fats (63%), vitamin A (85%), folate (96%), vitamin C (61%), iodine (99.6%), and zinc (99%). There is unmet need of multiple nutrient intakes among PLHV, the study therefore recommends multiples approaches that include: counseling to PLHV by the staff of ART, fevers units and clinics in the country and food security strategies for the PLHV, by supporting local organizations such as Ghana Health Service, Christian Health Association of Ghana, Ghana AIDS Commission, non- governmental organizations and the government of Ghana.