Dietary diversity and associated factors among HIV positive adults attending antiretroviral therapy clinics.

Background: People Living with HIV are more likely to become malnourished due to reduced food intake, poor absorption of nutrients, and changes in the way the body uses nutrients it receives or has stored. Ethiopia is among the seriously affected countries in sub–Saharan Africa with more than 1.3 million people living with HIV. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and associated factors of dietary diversity among adult HIV positives attending antiretroviral therapy clinics in Hawassa comprehensive specialized Hospital and Yirgalem General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Method: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to June, 2022. A total of 345 HIV patients attending ART clinic in Hawassa University comprehensive Specialize Hospital and Yirgalem General Hospital. Data were collected by six trained nurses using pre tested structured questionnaires and from patients’ medical record. Data entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with self-dietary diversity and significance declared at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 39.5 (±9.02) years and most of them were female (61%). The prevalence of low dietary diversity was found to be 46.7%. Dietary diversity was statistically significantly associated with high income level [AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: (0.28, 0.83)], BMI [AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.07, 0.55)] and nutritional counseling service [AOR = 7.89, 95% CI: (4.41, 14.15)]. Conclusion and recommendation: The findings indicate that adult HIV patients experience low dietary diversity. Factors such as income level, body mass index, and access to nutritional counseling significantly influence dietary diversity. It is imperative for the government and relevant stakeholders to enhance income-generating opportunities. Additionally, healthcare professionals at antiretroviral therapy clinics should intensify their nutritional counseling efforts to support improved dietary practices among adult HIV patients.