1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya
2Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute
3Professor, Department of Community Medicine, J.S.S Medical College, Mysore
4Associate Professor, Department of Population Policies and Programmes, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai
HIV infection is a chronic infection that affects the immune system of the body. Women have always been a vulnerable section of our society. Those who are affected with HIV are doubly vulnerable due to the HIV per se and malnutrition, which in turn may affect their Quality Of Life (QOL). There are many studies which suggest that malnutrition is common in HIV but it is important to know whether this malnutrition affects Quality Of Life (QOL) of these vulnerable women.
A cross sectional study was conducted from June 2011 to December 2011. The study population consisted of 116 women on ART. Weight, height, BMI and haemoglobin percentage measured. Data on quality of life was collected by using the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument WHO QOL-BREF. Data was analysed using SYSTAT 13 statistical software.
Among 116 patients, 48 (41.37%), 68 (58.63%) were asymptomatic and symptomatic respectively. The weight, BMI and haemoglobin level of the symptomatic were significantly lower than the asymptomatic subjects. The mean weight, BMI and haemoglobin were 46.5±8.33 kg, 19.92 ± 3.75 (kg/m²) and 10.15 ± 1.21g/dl respectively. A positive correlations between the nutritional parameters and the CD4 cell count: weight (r = 0.48; p< 0.05), BMI (r = 0.58;p< 0.05), and Hb% (r = 0.75; p <0.05) was seen. It was seen that QoL score were significantly associated with weight, BMI and haemoglobin.
People with HIV+/AIDS can be informed about the basic concepts of optimal nutrition by identifying key foods and nutrients, along with lifestyle changes, that contribute to a strengthened immune system. Moreover, nutritional management, counseling and education should be beneficial to the quality and extension of life in AIDS.
HIV/AIDS, ART(anti retroviral treatment), QoL(quality of life), BMI(body mass index) and Haemoglobin
