Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos Southwest, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Behaviour change and the use of antiretroviral drugs have been the main focus of most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and control programs, with minimal focus given to the role of nutrition. Additionally, women are affected the most and have the responsibility to care for other family members. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study design to determine the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices of women living with I IN/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from women selected through systematic random sampling at a large I ITV treatment Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Results: The majority of the respondents in this study were less than 40 years (70%), married (67.2%), and had at least a secondary education (83.0%). The majority (59.7%) of the women earned less than USD 200 per month. Although knowledge of nutrition and attitude was poor, nutritional practices were good. Older women who were married and had at least a secondary education were found to have better knowledge of nutrition than their younger peers who were single and less educated. Education was also found to positively influence nutritional practice as having at least a secondary education was found to be significantly associated with good nutrition. Conclusion: This study showed that I fly positive mothers had poor knowledge and attitude to nutrition but relatively good nutritional practices. Nutrition education should be integrated into routine counselling at I IIV treatment centres, aimed at improving the knowledge and attitude to nutrition among HIV positive women.