Background: In resource limited settings, many human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) infected individuals lack access to sufficient quantities of
nutritious foods, which poses additional challenges to the success of anti-retroviral
therapy. Morbidity and mortality related to human immune deficiency virus
infection in the developing world remain unacceptably high, despite major
advances in human immune deficiency virus therapy and increased international
funding for care. Objective: To determine magnitude of malnutrition and
identify factors associated with it among adult people on highly active
anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in health facility of Hosanna town. Methods: Institutional based
cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 20 to April30, 2014 on 340
adult people on anti-retroviral therapy at antiretroviral therapy clinics of
Hosanna town. Sample clients were selected by simple random sampling technique.
Data were collected by face-to-face interview using structured pretested
questionnaire, record review using check list and anthropometric measurements.
Bi-variate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models were done
using SPSS version 16 to identify factors associated with malnutrition.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of malnutrition (Body Mass Index (BMI) < 18.5
kg/m2) in this study was 31.2%. Household food insecurity (AOR =
2.51, 95% CI: 1.31 - 4.81), inadequate diversified diet (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23 - 0.84), low meal frequency (AOR =
0.29, 95% CI: 0.11 - 0.76), clinical staging four (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 1.42 -
19.35), clinical staging three (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.57, 9.73), presence of
opportunistic infections (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.49 - 4.59) and nutritional
support (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23 - 0.89) were independent predictors of
malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) was
high in adult people on anti-retroviral therapy at anti-retroviral therapy
clinics of Hossana town. Only Anti-Retroviral Therapy is not enough to improve
the health status of people on HAART. Further, interventional initiatives
should focus in improving household food security, diversity of diet, meal
frequency, clinical staging and prevention and control of opportunistic infections
in adult HIV infected individuals receiving highly active anti-retroviral
therapy.