Prevalence of Wasting, Stunting, and Underweight Among HIV Infected Underfives', in Lagos Using W.H.O z Score

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) impacts over 2.3 million children globally, predominantly in Africa.
• Malnutrition is a significant concern in Africa, affecting 25% of children under five.
• Co-occurrence of HIV and malnutrition presents a dual burden in vulnerable child populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional status of children infected with HIV.
• Utilize anthropometric indicators: weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height.
• Compare nutritional status between HIV-infected children and a control group.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional descriptive study design.
• Evaluation of malnutrition severity using standard growth indicators.
• Comparative analysis between HIV-infected children and non-infected controls.

Main Results:

• HIV-infected children exhibited higher prevalence of wasting (17.5% vs 6.6%), stunting (17.1% vs 7.5%), and underweight (18.5% vs 8%) compared to controls.
• While both groups showed signs of malnutrition, the severity was markedly greater in the HIV-infected cohort.
• Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in nutritional status between the groups.

Conclusions:

• HIV-infected children are significantly more likely to be wasted, stunted, and underweight than their non-infected counterparts.
• The increased prevalence of malnutrition in HIV-infected children is statistically significant.
• Findings underscore the critical need for nutritional support interventions for HIV-affected children.