IVESTIGATIVE STUDY ON EFFECT OF NUTRITION ON HIV INFECTED MOTHERS IN SOME SELECTED HOSPITALS IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Ocheni Joshua & Aye James
Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Science
Kogi State University, Anyigba
Email: Joshuaocheni156@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The research was carried out on effect of malnutrition on HIV infected mothers in some selected hospital in Dekina local government area of Kogi state. It aimed at bringing to lime light the effect of malnutrition on infected mothers and to create awareness on the health importance of nutrition especially the proper and regular intake of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Samples were gotten from five different hospitals in Dekina local government area of Kogi state i.e. general hospital Egume, general hospital Iyale, Kogi state university teaching hospital Anyigba, Maria Goretti hospital Anyigba, and Grimard catholic hospital Anyigba using a structured questioner. All data obtained were analyzed statistically using a T-test at 5% level of significant. Statistical analysis was carried out in the various hospitals to determine the mean CD4 before ART, the mean CD4 after ART, the mean difference, and the T-values. Statistical analysis was also carried out to determine the mean BMI (body mass index) before, the mean BMI after, mean difference of BMI and T-values. In general, it was found that CD4 count after placement on ART (293.43) was significantly less than CD4 count before ART (38.53). For general hospital Egume, general hospital Iyale, Kogi state university teaching hospital Anyigba, Maria Goretti hospital Anyigba, and Grimard catholic hospital Anyigba. The CD4 count before were 259.78, 209.98, 210.14, 364.82 and 422.48 respectively while the respective CD4 count after were 32.84, 35.88, 38.1, 42.42 and 43.43. The highest level of significance was recorded for general hospital Iyale (T=24.1) with a mean difference of 174.1 while hospital with least significance difference was Grimard Catholic hospital Anyigba (T=11.6) with mean difference of 379.01. Aside patient in general hospital Egume all analysis of data obtained from all the hospital reveal statistically significant increase in BMI for those placed on ART. In general, there was BMI increment from 21.43 to 23.98 with a robust T-value of -2.27. Conversely, there was significant decrease in BMI for those not on ART i.e. 21.98 to 19.10 (T=11.49) the study there shows that nutritional counseling with strict adherence to the use of ART will tackle the problem of malnutrition by restoring the damage done to the body immune system especially to those infected with HIV/AIDs.
