Introduction

NUTRITION FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS:
A VITAL AND OFTEN NEGLECTED COMPONENT OF HOME-BASED CARE

Malnutrition¹ serious danger for people living with HIV/AIDS. Even at the early stages of HIV infection when no symptoms are apparent, HIV makes demands on the body's nutritional status. The risk of malnutrition increases significantly during the course of the infection.

Good nutrition cannot cure AIDS or prevent HIV infection, but it can help to maintain and improve the nutritional status of a person with HIV/AIDS and delay the progression from HIV to AIDS-related diseases. It can therefore improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Nutritional care and support are important from the early stages of the infection to prevent the development of nutritional deficiencies. A healthy and balanced diet will help to maintain body weight and fitness. Eating well helps to maintain and improve the performance of the immune system - the body's protection against infection - and therefore helps a person to stay healthy.

Many of the conditions associated with HIV/AIDS affect food intake, digestion and absorption, while others influence the functions of the body. Many of the symptoms of these conditions (e.g. diarrhoea, weight loss, sore mouth and throat, nausea or vomiting) are manageable with appropriate nutrition. Good nutrition will complement and reinforce the effect of any medication taken.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL

The manual provides practical recommendations for a healthy and balanced diet for people living with HIV/AIDS in countries or areas with a low resource base. It aims at improving nutrition in a home-based setting. It is also applicable for people with HIV/AIDS in hospitals and other institutional settings, including hospices.

The food requirements of people with HIV/AIDS are described and recommendations given on foods and eating habits to meet these requirements. The manual also explains how to address the nutritional aspects of HIV-related conditions. Practical recipes using locally available foods are suggested as well as some simple home remedies for easing some of the problems people with HIV/AIDS may experience.

USERS OF THE MANUAL

The manual consists of:

1. Guidelines with accompanying information and explanations (the main text) intended for use by:
• Health service providers and other extension workers as well as those involved at the national and community level in the many different aspects of counselling and home-based care (see Figure 1).
• Community-based organizations working with people with HIV/AIDS who need information for programming and counselling purposes.
• Planners in the health, social and nutrition services so they can develop national or local guidelines for nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• International agencies that support national and community-based support programmes for people with HIV/AIDS.
2. Summary sheets that can be used as handouts, listing the main points for each key topic.

The summary sheets and leaflets are specifically for use by people who are living with HIV/AIDS or who are caring for a person living with HIV/AIDS, who want to be better informed.

The Annexes contain:

• Further technical information
• Suggested recipes for home treatments and foods for different conditions
• Forms to monitor food intake and weight
• Sources of literature and information on institutions providing support for people living with HIV/AIDS

FIGURE 1
Entry points for raising nutritional issues and providing
care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS

¹ Malnutrition in this publication refers to:
a) lack of food energy (undernutrition); and b) lack of micronutrients.