Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among rural dwellers depletes quality of agricultural labour and reduces quality of life. Use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has not significantly reduced consequences of infection, as the effort is being compromised by inadequate dietary intake. This study analysed the dietary intake of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in rural communities of Benue State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 190 PLWHA randomly selected from members of two rural support groups with high prevalence of HIV in Benue State using interview schedule. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and Student t-test at 0.05 significance level. Mean involvement in agriculture was 15.2?10.6 before HIV and reduced to 9.0?8.2 after HIV infection. Extent of involvement in agriculture significantly reduced pre and post HIV infection in Benue State (t=10.2). Diet diversity score was low among 64.7% of the PLWHA, with a mean of (4.1?1.3) and diet was adjudged severely inadequate. However, change in level of involvement in agriculture had significant correlation with dietary intake (r=0.22). The study concluded that dietary intake of PLWHA in Benue State was inadequate, thus there is need for extension workers to be more pro-active in combating the current challenge of HIV/AIDS among rural households in order to improve food security.

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