Investigators
Study information
- Research Area: This study will be a national activity which will be conducted within 30 districts with at least 30 operating districts hospitals in the country. Under each district hospital, two health centers will be randomly selected. Since health centers to include in the survey will be from all the districts of the country, the study will cover urban and rural areas. Sampling techniques will make sure typically urban health centers are taken in the study, including those in Kigali City and other main secondary cities of the country.
- Research type: The study targets people living with HIV in Rwanda (PLHIV) aged 2 to 64 years recorded in health services and aims to improve in particular, their nutritional status. Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS are synergistic and create a vicious cycle that weakens the immune system. Research has shown that good nutrition can improve the health and quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). PLHIV and their households are affected by ill-health, impaired productivity, declining income, and livelihoods, stigma resulting in social disruption and higher risk of food insecurity leading to inadequate intake of nutritious foods, impacting their nutritional status and well-being.
- Start date: Jul 01, 2021
- End date: Nov 30, 2021
Study aim of the objectives
Aims: This study comes in as a follow on to a similar assessment that took place six years ago, exactly late 2015. Broadly, the study aims to generate information on the nutritional status of PLHIV, their households’ food security, and vulnerability status. Findings will once again constitute a benchmark against which to monitor the effectiveness of interventions that target PLHIV and will serve, at least for all nutrition-related performance indicators, orient managers in different sectors and levels to make the decision, and adjust plans and implementation for achieving their goal.
The study aims to respond to the following specific objectives:
- Determine the prevalence of malnutrition among PLHIV aged 2 years and above in selected health facilities countrywide.
- Determine the prevalence of malnutrition of PLHIV at ART initiation using health records.
- Determine the prevalence of food insecurity and food insecurity-related vulnerability among PLHIV especially within the COVID-19 context.
- Assess the impact of COVID-19 on the vulnerability of PLHIV.
- To provide insight into the experiences of social vulnerability among PLHIV;
- To determine the gaps and challenges in nutrition care service delivery in health facilities.
Study setting/Area (Location)
Nationwide
Implementing institution
RBC
Department/Division
HIV, STI, viral hepatitis and OVDC Division
Impact on Policy
The study will inform nutritional support guidelines to PLWHIV