The Effect of Gastrointestinal Symptoms to Body Mass Index  (BMI) of People with HIV/AIDS in Yayasan Peduli Kelompok  Dukungan Sebaya (YPKDS) Makassar, South Sulawesi 2017

Authors

HIV/AIDS, Nutritional Status, Gastrointestinal.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) results in a weakened immune system, making it vulnerable to

various types of infections, systemic disorders and weight loss. In Indonesia, the incidence and mortality

rates from HIV/AIDS were still relatively high, especially in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province. This study

aimed to determine the dominant factors associated with nutritional status on people living with HIV/AIDS

(PLWHA). This research was a quantitative research with cross-sectional design, involving 80 respondents

of PLWHA aged ? 18 years. Data collection used a structured questionnaire included demographic, clinical,

and behavioral factors, while nutritional status was measured by body mass index (BMI). The results

showed that most of respondents had normal nutritional status (67.5%), followed by underweight (20%)

and overweight (12.5%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were the dominant factor related to nutritional status

(BMI) after controlling confounding variables such as smoking habits, food security status, and alcohol

consumption (AOR = 4.78 and p-value = 0.01). Nutrition education could improve the nutrition intake and

dietary behaviour of PLWHA at Kelompok Dukungan Sebaya foundation (YPKDS) in Makassar City.

A. Mukramin Yusuf1 , Kusharisupeni2 , Triyanti2 , Trini Sudiarti2 Elma Alfiah1

1 Nutrition Study Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, Jakarta, 2 Departement of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java