Complementary and alternative medicine use, dietary practices and food security among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Lebanon -

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapies have improved the quality of life of HIV-AIDS patients and reduced morbidity and mortality; however, these drugs are not always accessible and pose significant side effects. Therefore, PLWHA are increasingly seeking other alternative therapies to cope with gaps faced with conventional HIV-AIDS treatment and have turned to nutritional care and complementary medicine. Up to date, no reports on food security, nutritional habits, status, knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and dietary intake nor on CAM use among HIV-infected patients are available in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Objective: To examine food security, nutritional practices, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, to assess dietary intake and the nutritional status, as well as to assess the prevalence and determinants of CAM use among PLWHA in Lebanon. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to carry out face-to-face interviews with 116 HIV infected patients attending a major NGO for HIV-positive patients in Lebanon. In this interview patients were asked to complete a questionnaire which comprised six sections: the socio-demographic, anthropometric assessment, weight history, disease characteristics, information on CAM use and its types and modes, and nutritional practices, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes, and food security. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized techniques and calibrated equipment. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi-square. Results: Almost half of PLWHA were unemployed (52.6percent) and food insecure (50.9percent). Compared to food secure, food insecure subjects were more likely to be unemployed (61.0percent vs. 33.3percent, p0.01), had a lower monthly income (below 500 USD per month) (69.5percent vs. 48.2percent, p0.01), had a lower education level (66.1percent vs. 35.1percent had less than high school diploma, p0.01), and a higher crowding index (above 2) (57.6percent vs. 29.8percent, p0.01). In addition, almost half of the participants also stated that they usually eat alone (45.7percent) and consume less t