Development of a nutritional guideline for the management of people living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon

CaHReF 20116, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL045

Nutritional status is an important determinant of HIV outcome. HIV positive individuals are prone to malnutrition due to inadequate dietary intake. Additionally, in low-income countries including Cameroon, poverty, stigmatization and discrimination result in a lack of support for HIV-positive individuals ultimately contributing to even further reduced food availability and inadequate dietary intake (Samuel OBI et al., 2010). Wasting syndrome increases predisposition to opportunistic infections. Food consumption pattern is a known determinant factor for nutritional problems among PLWHIV.

The aim of this study was to develop a nutritional guideline for PLWHIV in Cameroon by determining whether food consumption patterns affect anthropometric and metabolic parameters in these patients under ART. We performed a cross-sectional study of forty-seven males (n=47) and One hundred and twenty-two females (n=122) aged from 18 years to 60 years recruited at the Yaoundé Central hospital from June to September 2015. Each subjects food consumption pattern was assessed by a self-administered food frequency questionnaire and the mean difference of each food groups were obtained. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters of interest were collected and analyzed to determine their mean differences in both gender. Diet quality was evaluated according to the scores of pattern of consumption; Two food consumption profiles were identified; the borderline profile (refers to the lower calories intake of vegetables, cereals, proteins, lipids, fruits and sugar) and the acceptable profile (refers to the adequate calories intake of vegetables, cereals, proteins, lipids, fruits and sugar) for both gender.

The results showed that PLWHIV are more susceptible to either underweight, overweight/ obese or metabolic syndrome. These infected individuals in the acceptable consumption profile had a better nutritional status compared to those patients in the borderline profile. There was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the consumption patterns of the different food groups for both gender. In conclusion, this study shows that an adequate dietary intake improved anthropometric and biochemical parameters of PLWHIV thus a good dietary habit is essential for the management of HIV/AIDS.

: Food consumption profile, Anthropometric parameters, Biochemical parameters, HIV infection, Nutritional guideline.