Nutritional assessment of children orphaned from human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and implementing a food based intervention to improve their nutritional status in Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria

The adverse effects of the human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic are felt most severely in some of the world’s poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa which has led to an upsurge in the number of orphaned children. This study assessed the nutritional status of 196 children, 0 to 17 years orphaned from HIV/AIDS living in Bauchi metropolis, using anthropometry and food frequency questionnaire. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation and paired samples T-test were computed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Their body mass index (BMI)-for-age and height-for-age were computed using WHO AnthroPlus software. Majority 159 (81.4%) of the respondents were above 5 years while 36 (18.6%) were under 5 years.  The most frequently consumed cereals were rice 179 (92.3%) and maize 172 (88.7%), while the most frequently consumed tuber, animal protein, fruits and vegetables were yam 171 (88.1%), meat 130 (67%), and fish 129 (66.5%), Orange 147 (75.8%) and garden egg 134 (69.1%) respectively. Twenty-eight (14.4%) and 18 (9.3%) of the children were moderately and severely underweight respectively, while 34 (17.6%) and 5 (2.6%) were moderately and severely stunted respectively. Twenty children were used for the intervention (administering kwash-pap powder for a period of 1 month) and the mean weight gain (0.99±0.43 kg) was significantly different before and after the study (p<0.001). Food based intervention can improve the nutritional status of children orphaned by HIV/AIDs.   Keywords: HIV/AIDs, Bauchi, malnutrition, kwash-pap, orphans.