Food Insecurity and Associated Factors among People Living with HIV Attending ART Clinic in Fitche Zonal Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Back ground- The bi-directional linkages of HIV/AIDS and Food insecurity are not well documented. HIV/AIDS deepens food insecurity; affects the nutritional status of PLHIV leading to weight lose and wasting. Nutrition is the pivotal interface between food security and health security. The aim of this study was to determine the level of food insecurity and associated factors among People living with HIV in North Ethiopia Oromia Region Fitche Zonal Hospital

Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was employed on 390 PLHIV attending Fitche Hospital ART clinic from February 15 to March 15/ 2012. The study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. A pre- tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data and analyzed using SPSS Version 16.0. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors.All statistical tests at P< 0.05 were considered as significance and triangulated with qualitative result.

Result: The prevalence of food insecurity among PLHIV in Fitche Hospital was 341(87.4%).

This study identified that factors found to be associated with food insecurity among PLHIV were:− monthly income >200 birr[AOR=0.999, 95%CI:0.99- 1.00)], no education/Illiterate[AOR = 4.18, 95% CI: 1.73- 10.09)],  Read & write [AOR = 10.54, 95% CI: 1.88-58.99)],    1st Cycle (grade 1-6) [AOR = 7.02, 95% CI: 2.46-20.07)], Second cycle (grade 7-8) [AOR = 3.67, 95% CI: 1.19 -11.30)], not involved in agriculture practices [AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.13-4.36)], major depression [AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 1.54-11.88)] and  meal frequency less than three times[AOR = 4.54, 95% CI: 2.10 -9.79)]were some of the factors significantly associated with food insecurity among PLHIV.

Conclusion: The level of food insecurity among PLHIV attending ART at Fitche Hospital is very high (87.4%).  Monthly income, meal frequency per day, educational status, not involved in agriculture practices and psychological depression were demonstrated significantly associated with food insecurity among PLHIVs and these factors should be emphatically considered during PLHIV’s nutritional program development. Therefore, Policy makers and Ministry of Health need to consider and plan for may increases numbers of food insecured PLHIV among these populations and would be better to give greater emphases to address PLHIV’s food rations’ in more comprehensive manner with ART treatments.

Keywords: Food insecurity, People living with HIV, Fitche