Comparison of nutritional status of HIV positive children with homecare and institutional care/ orphanage - An eye opener cross sectional study.

Background: Nutrition has an important bearing on the health of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive children. Ascertaining the nutritional demands correctly and provisioning the nutritional needs to HIV positive/ Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) children will go a long way in maximizing the therapeutic benefits reaped through ever improving pharmaceutical initiatives, and thus, contribute to prolonging the longevity of these children who have a whole life ahead of them.

Objectives: To study the nutritional status, including dietary assessment and anemia status of HIV-positive children, and compare the outcomes among children under homecare (staying with families) and orphanages/institutional care.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out among children between 2 and 15 years who were attending Pediatric Outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital in western Maharashtra. Data were collected from 106 children by the interviewer himself using pretested validated questionnaire along with anthropometric measures and relevant blood tests. A 24-h recall method was used to collect the dietary intake. Institutional ethical clearance was taken, and data were collected through informed consent of the parent/guardian accompanying the children.

Results: Out of the 106 subjects studied, 54 (50.9%) were living in orphanages and 52 (49.1) were living with the family. Out of the 52 subjects of children under caregivers, 48.1% of the caregivers were unskilled workers and more than half of the subjects had a monthly family income of less than Rs 3,000. About 46.1% of the subjects' caregivers were illiterate. In the orphanage, 28 (51.8%) were males and 26 (48.2%) were females; 52 (49.1%) children were living with family of whom 30 (57.7%) were males and 22 (42.3%) were females. The prevalence of anemia (86.5%) and undernutrition (61.1%) was more among those living with family compared to the orphans living in orphanages and the same was statistically significant ( < 0.05). Among the children living in orphanages, the mean intake for most of the nutrients was more across all age groups. Within homecare, the mean nutrient intake of the females for all nutrients was more than the males across all age groups except 3-9 years, where it was more in males. Overall, all the children received less of water-soluble vitamins compared to recommended daily allowances (RDA), and the children of age group 5-15 years received less vitamin A and iron also.

Conclusion: Adequate nutrition, which is best achieved through the consumption of a balanced healthy diet, is vital for health and survival for all HIV-infected children. Specific measures to be directed to children under homecare and measures directed to improve social factors need to be undertaken.