Abstract:
Background: Undernutrition results from insufficient food intake and repeated infectious
diseases. Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and malnutrition often coexist which
increase the risk morbidity and mortality. Despite of this fact, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
infected children are often overlooked and their nutritional status has not been well studied in
low income countries like Ethiopia.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of undernutrtion and
associated factors among pediatrics age attending anti retroviral therapy in selected public
hospitals of eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: An institutional based cross sectional study was used to conduct this study. A sample
of 376 Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected children aged 2-15 years were selected through
probability proportional sampling technique. Pre-tested questionnaire was used. The collected
data were coded and entered into EPI data version 3.1, cleaned and exported to SPSS version
20.0 for analysis. The World Health Organization Anthros and Anthros plus 2010 software were
used to calculate the anthropometric indices. Descriptive statistics, bivariable and mutivariable
logistic regression analysis was applied. Variables associated with the outcome variables at pvalue
<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Result: The magnitude of stunting (HAZ<-2SD) and thinness (BMI for age<-2SD) was found to
be 24.7% (95%CI: 20.7, 29.4) and 28.2% (95%CI: 23.7, 32.2), respectively. Household food
insecurity [AOR=5.08, 95% CI (2.29, 11.26)], being anemic [AOR=1.8, 95%CI (1.02, 3.19)],
presence of Diarrhea [AOR=2.13, 95%CI (1.18, 3.84)] and advanced WHO clinical stage
[AOR=2.51, 95% CI (1.18, 5.34)] were significantly associated with stunting. While being male
[AOR=2.53, 95% CI (1.43, 4.45)], low family monthly income [AOR=3.12, 95%CI(1.15, 8.5)]
and medium family monthly income [AOR=2.25, 95%CI(1, 5.04)], low dietary diversity
[AOR=2.77, 95%CI (1.44,5.31)], low (poor and borderline) food consumption
pattern[AOR=2.49, 95%CI(1.31,4.74)] and presence of diarrhea [AOR=3.26, 95% CI
(1.81,5.87)] were significantly associated with thinness.
Conclusion and recommendation: There was medium and high magnitude of stunting, thinness
in this study. Therefore, health education should be given regarding dietary practice to improve
their nutritional status.
