Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Children Attending Anti Retroviral Therapy in Public Hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia

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.