Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Hospitalized Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS predisposes to malnutrition. Malnutrition exacerbates HIV/AIDSprogression resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The magnitude of malnutrition in HIV/AIDSpatients has not been well studied in Ethiopian setup. Our objective was to assess the prevalence ofmalnutrition and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients admitted to Jimma University SpecializedHospital (JUSH).METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of 109 HIV/AIDSpatients admitted from November 2013 to July 2014. Cohort design was also used for outcomeassessment. Serum levels of hemoglobin, albumin and CD4 counts were determined. Data wereorganized, coded, cleaned, entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Descriptiveanalysis was done initially. Those variables in the bivariate analysis with P–value < 0.25 were thenconsidered as candidates to be included in the multivariable logistic regression model. A P-vale of < 0.05was considered as statistically significant.RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 32.7+8.12 with male to female ratio of 1:1.9. Patients werein either clinical stage, 3(46.8%), or stage, 4(53.2%). Forty nine (45%) of the respondents had a CD4count of < 200 cells/μL. The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 46.8% (BMI<18.5kg/m2) and 44.1%(MUAC≤ 20cm). Eighty four (77.1%) of the patients had a serum albumin level of ≤3.5g/dl while 76(69.6%) of the patients had anemia (Hg<12g/dl).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of malnutrition was found to be high. WHO Stage 4 disease and CD4count <200cells/μl were independent predictors of malnutrition.