Abstract:
Background: Undernutrition among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) can be ameliorated if nutrition specific
and sensitive interventions are integrated into their HIV care and treatment centers (CTC). Integrated care is
lacking despite expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, representing a substantial missed opportunity. This
research aims to examine nutritional status and associated risk factors among HIV-positive adults prior to ART initiation
in Tanzania in order to characterize existing gaps and inform early integration of nutrition care into CTC.
Methods: We analyzed data from 3993 pre-ART adults living with HIV enrolled in CTCs within the Trial of Vitamin (TOV3)
and progression of HIV/AIDS study in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. The primary outcome for this analysis was undernutrition,
measured as body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 kg/m2. We conducted descriptive analyses of baseline characteristics and
utilized multiple logistic regression to determine independent factors associated with pre-ART undernutrition.
Results: Undernutrition was prevalent in about 27.7% of pre-ART adults, with a significantly higher magnitude among
males compared to females (30% vs. 26.6%, p < 0.025). Severe undernutrition (BMI < 16.0 kg/m2) was prevalent in one
in four persons, with a trend toward higher magnitudes among females (26.2% vs. 21.1% p = 0.123). Undernutrition
was also more prevalent among younger adults (p < 0.001), those with lower wealth quintiles (p = 0.003), and those
with advanced HIV clinical stage (p < 0.001). Pre-ART adults presented with poor feeding practices, hallmarked by low
dietary diversity scores and infrequent consumption of proteins, vegetables, and fruits. After adjusting for confounders
and important co-variates, pre-ART undernutrition was associated with younger age, low wealth indices, advanced
clinical stage, and low dietary diversity.
Conclusions: One in every four pre-ART PLWHIV presented with undernutrition in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Risk factors
for undernourishment included younger age, lower household income, advanced HIV clinical stage, and lower dietary
diversity score. Knowledge of the prevalence and prevailing risk factors for undernutrition among pre-ART PLWHIV should
guide targeted, early integration of nutrition interventions into routine HIV care and treatment in high-prevalence, lowincome
settings such as Tanzania
