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Preventive Medicine 2018
Journal of Preventive Medicine
ISSN: 2572-5483
Page 68
July 16-17, 2018
London, UK
9
th
Edition of International Conference on
Preventive Medicine
& Public Health
Background:
It is acknowledged that there is a strong relationship
between HIV and nutrition. Malnutrition can be caused by reduced
appetite, depression, and common opportunistic infections
among people living with HIV, such as oral thrush. Malnutrition
contributes to immunosuppression and quicker progression to
the stage of AIDS. Proper nutrition leads to stronger resistance
to the disease and increases compliance to and effectiveness of
antiretroviral treatment.
Aim:
This study aims to explore nutrition-related knowledge,
attitudes, andpractices (KAP) of people livingwithHIV inArmenia.
The specific research questions are the following: What is the
level of nutrition-related KAP among PLHIV in Armenia? Is there
an association between nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes,
and actual practice among PLHIV in Armenia?
Methodology:
A quantitative cross-sectional survey study design
was utilized with interviewer administered questionnaire. The
surveyed population included adult PLHIV. Convenience sampling
approach was used to recruit PLHIV in the survey. The survey
questionnaire has been developed based on the questionnaires
used in previous studies conducted on the topic of nutrition
internationally and in Armenia.
Results:
During the period of data collection 111 PLHIV were
surveyed. The mean percent knowledge score of nutrition
was 68.8%, while the mean percent attitude score was 71.2%.
Simple linear regression analysis showed statistically significant
associations between the mean cumulative practice score and
spending on food (p=0.036). The analysis also showedmarginally
significant association between the mean cumulative practice
score and the employment status of the study participants
(p=0.098), with employed participants being more likely to have
higher cumulative practice score than unemployed ones.
Conclusion:
This was the first study to explore nutritional
knowledge, attitude and practices of people living with HIV in
Armenia. The study found high level of knowledge and positive
attitude, but inadequate consumption of certain food groups
among people living with HIV. Larger-scale investigations should
be conducted to explore the nutrition-related KAP and nutritional
status of people living with HIV in Armenia with the focus on
barriers to healthy nutrition in this population.
seda.abgaryan@yahoo.comNutritional knowledge, attitude and practices among people
living with HIV in Armenia: A cross-sectional survey
Seda Abgaryan
American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
J Prev Med 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-003