Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: November | Volume: 8 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 245-256
Magnitude of Stunting, Thinness and Associated Factors among HIV Positive Children Attending Chronic HIV Care and Support in Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Asiya Jeylan1, Ebrahim Mohammed2, Alemayehu Girma3
1MSc in Clinical Infections, Adama Hospital Medical College, Department of Chronic ART Care and Support, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
2MPH, Adama Hospital Medical College, Public Health Department, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
3MD, Pediatrician, Adama Hospital Medical College, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health,
Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Corresponding Author: Asiya Jeylan
ABSTRACT
Background: Approximately 70 percent of children live in Africa where food insecurity and undernutrition are endemic. Even though underlying undernutrition makes difficulty to combat HIV/AIDS, the factors of this underlying problem is not still well known.
Objective: To assess Magnitude of stunting, thinness and associated factors among pediatric age group (< 15 years) HIV positive children who are on chronic HIV care and support follows up at AHMC, Adama, Ethiopia 2017.
Method and Materials: Institution based cross sectional study design was employed using quantitative methods on 412 children (< 15 years) in Adama Hospital Medical College who are on chronic Anti Retroviral Therapy care and support. WHO Anthros plus 2010 software was used to analyze the anthropometric indices. Bivariate and multivariable Logistic regression with the 95% confidence interval was computed and interpreted. P-value <0.05 was declared as statistically significant.
Result: A total of 412 children included in the study. Stunting among children on chronic HIV care and support is low (13.4%) but thinness is very high (21.8%). On Multivariable logistic regression and BMI for age analysis, variables like Male Sex (AOR, 1.99; 95% CI: 1.19, 3.32) and Problem of eating (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.19, 4.11),Age greater than 10 years (AOR, 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.73) and Monthly income of care giver (AOR, 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.79) shows significant association with thinness and Parental status (AOR, 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.80), Presence of opportunistic infection (AOR, 4.495% CI: 1.97, 9.89) and dietary pattern (AOR, 5.40; 95% CI: 1.20, 24.22) were significantly associated with stunting.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Stunting among children on chronic HIV care and support is low (13.4%) but thinness is very high (21.8%). Factors like Sex, Age, Monthly income of care givers and eating problem were significantly associated with thinning and Parental status, presence of opportunistic infection and dietary pattern were significantly associated with stunting. Health care givers and program managers should work prevention of opportunistic diseases and dietary pattern counseling especially for male children at adolescent age children should work on income generation of care givers.
Key words: Adama, Stunting, Thinness