Abstract:
HIV/AIDS is a disease that is now on focus in all parts of the world. The rate of increase in the number of children diagnosed with HIV is alarming. HIV infection in children can lead to poor weight gain, failure to thrive and generally poor health status leading to poor nutritional status. The main objective of the study was to establish the adequacy of nutrient intake
amongst children born to HIV positive mothersThis was a longitudinal study of 302 infants aged between 6 and 23 months and whose mothers were attending Turbo AMPATH Health Centre. A pretested food frequency questionnaire and a 24 hour were the main data collection tool. A Nutrient Calculator was used to obtain mean Daily Intake and probability approach was used to determine adequacy of nutrient intake and was compared with Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). A total of 270(90%) infants were studied and data obtained. Over three quarters of the mothers 211(78.1%) were married and more than half 155(57.4%)
were housewives. A quarter of their spouses (for those married) 53(25.1%) were
businessmen. More than half of the mothers 187(69.3%) had primary level of education. The mean age of the children was 14.1 months. Vitamin A and protein intake were significantly below the Estimated average Requirement (P<0.001). Vitamin A was the highest in inadequacy in the diets followed by protein but the children were growing well and were within the normal range as the WHO standards for children of the same age. Researcher recommends interventions that will provide diets and foods rich in vitamin A.
