Assessment Of Nutrition Support Services For Persons Living With Hiv At Selected Art Sites In Ghana

ABSTRACT

According to the 2012 HIV sentinel Survey Report, it is estimated that 235,982 people are living with HIV in Ghana. There have been several interventions all making attempts to address challenges PLHIV face. One of such interventions is the Nutrition Assessment Counselling and Support programme (NACS) which aims at providing a comprehensive nutrition services for PLHIV.

The study hopes to bring to the fore the capacity of health workers to deliver NACS services in Ghana, the availability and use of NACS related educational materials and equipments, the adequacy of nutrition counselling as part of NACS services and also to assess the nutrition knowledge of the PLHIV’s receiving NACS services at the selected ART sites.

This is a cross-sectional study. Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and Health workers were conveniently selected from eight (8) active ART sites implementing NACS. Participants were interviewed with the use of structured questionnaire. A standardized observation checklist was also used to collect information on the quality of nutrition counselling and the availability and use of NACS related equipment and materials.

Nutrition knowledge of PLHIV was determined based on knowledge of two or more critical times to wash hands properly, three basic ways to increase energy intake, two or more advantages of eating a nutritionally adequate diet, and eating three or more times a day. Adequacy of nutrition counselling was determined using a standardised checklist from FANTA on nutrition counselling quality. Scoring 75% or more means nutrition counselling was of good quality. The capacity of the health workers delivering nutrition services to PLHIV was also assessed by way of looking at their background training as nurses/nutritionist or dietician or Counsellors and if they have ever received an MOH approved training in nutrition and HIV