High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model

Abstract Background Undernutrition among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) can be ameliorated if nutrition specific and sensitive interventions are integrated into their HIV care and treatment centers (CTC). Integrated care is lacking despite expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, represe...

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Main Authors: Bruno F. Sunguya, Nzovu K. Ulenga, Hellen Siril, Sarah Puryear, Eric Aris, Expeditho Mtisi, Edith Tarimo, David P. Urassa, Wafaie Fawzi, Ferdnand Mugusi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-08-01
Series:BMC Nutrition
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Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-017-0180-0
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author Bruno F. Sunguya
Nzovu K. Ulenga
Hellen Siril
Sarah Puryear
Eric Aris
Expeditho Mtisi
Edith Tarimo
David P. Urassa
Wafaie Fawzi
Ferdnand Mugusi
author_facet Bruno F. Sunguya
Nzovu K. Ulenga
Hellen Siril
Sarah Puryear
Eric Aris
Expeditho Mtisi
Edith Tarimo
David P. Urassa
Wafaie Fawzi
Ferdnand Mugusi
author_sort Bruno F. Sunguya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Undernutrition among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) can be ameliorated if nutrition specific and sensitive interventions are integrated into their HIV care and treatment centers (CTC). Integrated care is lacking despite expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, representing a substantial missed opportunity. This research aims to examine nutritional status and associated risk factors among HIV-positive adults prior to ART initiation in Tanzania in order to characterize existing gaps and inform early integration of nutrition care into CTC. Methods We analyzed data from 3993 pre-ART adults living with HIV enrolled in CTCs within the Trial of Vitamin (TOV3) and progression of HIV/AIDS study in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. The primary outcome for this analysis was undernutrition, measured as body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 kg/m2. We conducted descriptive analyses of baseline characteristics and utilized multiple logistic regression to determine independent factors associated with pre-ART undernutrition. Results Undernutrition was prevalent in about 27.7% of pre-ART adults, with a significantly higher magnitude among males compared to females (30% vs. 26.6%, p < 0.025). Severe undernutrition (BMI < 16.0 kg/m2) was prevalent in one in four persons, with a trend toward higher magnitudes among females (26.2% vs. 21.1% p = 0.123). Undernutrition was also more prevalent among younger adults (p < 0.001), those with lower wealth quintiles (p = 0.003), and those with advanced HIV clinical stage (p < 0.001). Pre-ART adults presented with poor feeding practices, hallmarked by low dietary diversity scores and infrequent consumption of proteins, vegetables, and fruits. After adjusting for confounders and important co-variates, pre-ART undernutrition was associated with younger age, low wealth indices, advanced clinical stage, and low dietary diversity. Conclusions One in every four pre-ART PLWHIV presented with undernutrition in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Risk factors for undernourishment included younger age, lower household income, advanced HIV clinical stage, and lower dietary diversity score. Knowledge of the prevalence and prevailing risk factors for undernutrition among pre-ART PLWHIV should guide targeted, early integration of nutrition interventions into routine HIV care and treatment in high-prevalence, low-income settings such as Tanzania.
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spelling doaj.art-28cb0b36a8154c37bd36e1bf6bd3d1372022-12-22T03:08:43ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282017-08-01311910.1186/s40795-017-0180-0High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat modelBruno F. Sunguya0Nzovu K. Ulenga1Hellen Siril2Sarah Puryear3Eric Aris4Expeditho Mtisi5Edith Tarimo6David P. Urassa7Wafaie Fawzi8Ferdnand Mugusi9Afya Bora Consortium, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesManagement and Development for HealthManagement and Development for HealthDepartment of Global Health, University of WashingtonManagement and Development for HealthAfrican Academy for Public HealthAfya Bora Consortium, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesAfya Bora Consortium, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartments of Global Health and Population, Nutrition, and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthAfya Bora Consortium, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesAbstract Background Undernutrition among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) can be ameliorated if nutrition specific and sensitive interventions are integrated into their HIV care and treatment centers (CTC). Integrated care is lacking despite expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, representing a substantial missed opportunity. This research aims to examine nutritional status and associated risk factors among HIV-positive adults prior to ART initiation in Tanzania in order to characterize existing gaps and inform early integration of nutrition care into CTC. Methods We analyzed data from 3993 pre-ART adults living with HIV enrolled in CTCs within the Trial of Vitamin (TOV3) and progression of HIV/AIDS study in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. The primary outcome for this analysis was undernutrition, measured as body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 kg/m2. We conducted descriptive analyses of baseline characteristics and utilized multiple logistic regression to determine independent factors associated with pre-ART undernutrition. Results Undernutrition was prevalent in about 27.7% of pre-ART adults, with a significantly higher magnitude among males compared to females (30% vs. 26.6%, p < 0.025). Severe undernutrition (BMI < 16.0 kg/m2) was prevalent in one in four persons, with a trend toward higher magnitudes among females (26.2% vs. 21.1% p = 0.123). Undernutrition was also more prevalent among younger adults (p < 0.001), those with lower wealth quintiles (p = 0.003), and those with advanced HIV clinical stage (p < 0.001). Pre-ART adults presented with poor feeding practices, hallmarked by low dietary diversity scores and infrequent consumption of proteins, vegetables, and fruits. After adjusting for confounders and important co-variates, pre-ART undernutrition was associated with younger age, low wealth indices, advanced clinical stage, and low dietary diversity. Conclusions One in every four pre-ART PLWHIV presented with undernutrition in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Risk factors for undernourishment included younger age, lower household income, advanced HIV clinical stage, and lower dietary diversity score. Knowledge of the prevalence and prevailing risk factors for undernutrition among pre-ART PLWHIV should guide targeted, early integration of nutrition interventions into routine HIV care and treatment in high-prevalence, low-income settings such as Tanzania.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-017-0180-0UndernutritionAntiretroviral therapyNutrition careAnd integrated care
spellingShingle Bruno F. Sunguya
Nzovu K. Ulenga
Hellen Siril
Sarah Puryear
Eric Aris
Expeditho Mtisi
Edith Tarimo
David P. Urassa
Wafaie Fawzi
Ferdnand Mugusi
High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
BMC Nutrition
Undernutrition
Antiretroviral therapy
Nutrition care
And integrated care
title High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
title_full High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
title_fullStr High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
title_full_unstemmed High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
title_short High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
title_sort high magnitude of under nutrition among hiv infected adults who have not started art in tanzania a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model
topic Undernutrition
Antiretroviral therapy
Nutrition care
And integrated care
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-017-0180-0
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