Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

The interaction between HIV and AIDS, and nutritional status has been a defining characteristic of the disease since the early years of the epidemic. HIV and AIDS are associated with poor nutritional status and weight loss, and weight loss is an important predictor of death from AIDS. These linkages suggest that nutrition may have an important role to play in slowing progression of the disease and in contributing to successful antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. HIV and AIDS can also inhibit a person’s ability to secure adequate nutrition through inability to work, loss of appetite or increased need for nutrients as a result of the disease itself. Addressing impact on livelihoods and food security is therefore another important aspect of interventions for HIV and AIDS, and nutrition.

This guide reviews the evidence base for current nutrition interventions for HIV and AIDS, and looks at the scientific background, trends and challenges in implementation, and implications for policy and planning.

Content of this guide

Background

• This section describes the evidence that supports the linke between nutrition and HIV/AIDS and focuses on weight loss and micronutrient deficiency in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
  

Interventions

• This section summarises the three main types of nutrition interventions for the treatment, care and support of PLWHA
• counselling and care
• prescribed/targeted nutrition supplementation
• other food intervention (including linkages to other sectors)

 

Challenges and limitations

• This section lists the factors that impact on the effectiveness of nutritional interventions on body weight for PLWHA including disease stage and a reliance on medial interventions at the expense of other programmes such as water and sanitation

Implications for policy and planning

• This section looks how better targeting and the participation of PLWHA in the design of programmes can make interventions more responsive to different types of vulnerability and needs, and enable individuals to take charge.

Recommended reading

•  This section lists summaries of key documents of nutrition and HIV/AIDS