3 research outputs found
Sensibilisation des jeunes sur les IST/VIH et sida dans les établissements d’enseignement secondaire de la Commune de Dschang.
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Nutrition habits of PMTCT nursing mothers in the Dschang Health District, West Region Cameroon: a possible solution beside therapy
No full textBackground: Amongst the different at risk periods of transmission of the HIV virus from the mother to
the child that is; during pregnancy, labor and delivery and breastfeeding, much care and attention needs
to be given not only to the baby as concerns its feeding options but likewise to its mother. The aim of
this study was to determine the nutritional habits and health outcomes of PMTCT nursing mothers in
the Dschang Health District.
Methods: An exhaustive cross sectional study involving 56 nursing mothers living with HIV was
carried out at the Dschang District Day Care Hospital using a standard questionnaire of 04 pages, from
September 2014 to February 2015. The questionnaire was administered on face to face mode during
which anthropometrics parameters of the mothers were taken (weight and height), observation of their
conjunctiva and palms (physical check-up) and lastly clinical status determined by anemia test using the
Tallquist hemoglobin test. Data collected were analyzed using Epi Info version 7.1.3.3 and Excel 2013.
Results: Most women ate 3 times a day (53.6%, n=30/56) and 2 times a day (26.8%, n=15/56) with
staples (27.27%) and fruits (33.68%) being the most consumed foods per week and green leafy and yellow
vegetables the least consumed (13.74%). Using the BMI as means to evaluate the nutritional status of
the women, 26.90% (n=14/52) were in the normal range of weight, slightly more than halve of them
were overweight (51.90%, n=27/52) and 21.20% (n=11/52) of them were obese. All mothers were on
ART treatment. About halve of the women (50%) had their last CD4 count results, their number being
of a mode of 293 cells/mmc (range 97-798). During the physical checkup of the conjunctiva and palms
64.3% (n=36/56) and 67.9% (n=38/56) had moderately colored conjunctiva and palms respectively;
10.7% (n=6/56) and 12.5% (n=7/56) of the women had pale conjunctiva and palms as clinical sign
of anemia. About 74.1% (n=40/54) of the women were border line anemic and 24.1% (n=13/54) had
frank anemia and only 1.9% (n=1/54) were in the normal zone.
Conclusion: Nutrition habits amongst nursing mothers of the Dschang Health District were not optimum
and contributed a great deal to the poor health outcomes observed in the study. ART treatment alone
is not enough, it should be enhanced with nutritional education for better choice of nutrition to meet
up body needs and make the mothers healthier
