Low dietary diversity and associated factors among adult people with HIV patients attending ART clinics of Ethiopia. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Dietary diversity is the utilization of food and food groups consumed by individuals over 24 h, which is an indicator of a diet's micronutrient adequacy. Dietary management in people with HIV patients is the key to sustaining their day-to-day activities and contributing to their lively hood. The level of dietary diversity among HIV-positive patients in Ethiopia shows considerable variation, ranging from 29 to 71.3%. This study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of low dietary diversity and associated factors among HIV-positive patients attending ART clinics in Ethiopia.

Method: Multiple international database searching methods (articles found in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google scholar Africa, Hinari journal online, Embase, Scopus) and Ethiopian university repository online have been covered in this systemic review and meta-analysis. Data were extracted using Microsoft excel and analyzed by using the Stata version 14 software program. The heterogeneity between studies and publication bias was detected by using the I test and a funnel plot test respectively.

Results: The pooled prevalence of low dietary diversity among People with HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia was 55.9% 95% CI (45.73, 66.09) based on the random effect analysis. This systemic review and meta-analysis showed that only HIV positive patients with an antiretroviral therapy duration of less than one year (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.3, 4.1), and having low wealth quintile (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.5, 4.4) were factors significantly associated with low dietary diversity among People with HIV patients on ant-retroviral therapy clinics of Ethiopia.

Conclusion And Recommendation: The overall pooled prevalence of low dietary diversity among People with HIV patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinics in Ethiopia was high. We strongly recommend holistic nutritional interventions to address nutritional problems and promote the overall health status of HIV-positive patients in Ethiopia.