Nutritional status of visceral leishmaniasis patients: A comparative cross-sectional study

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of nutritional status in Leishmaniasis patients and their family members.

A comparative cross-sectional study design was implemented among patients visiting the Kala-azar treatments centers in Amhara region. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the Kala-azar patients and simple random sampling technique was used to select the family members. Data were collected using interview, measuring anthropometric indicators and collecting the stool and blood samples. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the proportion of malnutrition among the Kala-azar patients and their family members. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of malnutrition. 762 visceral leishmaniasis patients and 2287 family members were included.

The prevalence of underweight among visceral leishmaniasis patients was 82% [95% CI: 79%-85%], the prevalence of underweight among visceral leishmaniasis family members was 48.3% [95% CI: 46%-50%]. The mean hemoglobin concentration of visceral leishmaniasis patients was 9.46 g/dl and the mean hemoglobin concentration of visceral leishmaniasis patients' family members was 11.46 g/dl. The nutritional status of kala-azar patients was affected by intestinal parasite (AOR: 15.65 [95% CI; 779-31.44]), male sex (AOR: 2.15 [95%CI; 1.12-4.12]), literacy (AOR: 0.4 [AOR; 0.2-0.84]), urban residence (AOR: 0.46 [95%; 0.23-0.92]), income (AOR: 3.44 [95% CI; 1.76-6.74]).

The visceral leishmaniasis treatments guideline should consider supplying nutrients including iron as part of the curative intervention.