Nutritional Biochemistry Support for HIV-Positive Patients in Antiretroviral Therapy Programmes in Ogun State: A Professional Programme Evaluation

Nutritional support is an essential but frequently neglected component of antiretroviral therapy programme management, and its biochemical monitoring and integration into clinical care in Ogun State secondary health facilities requires professional evaluation. This study evaluates the structure, content, and biochemical outcomes of nutritional biochemistry support components in HIV care programmes at four general hospitals in Ogun State. A programme evaluation methodology combining clinical record review of four hundred patient files, structured interviews with twenty-four healthcare providers including physicians, nutritionists, and laboratory scientists, and a patient-focused survey administered to one hundred and fifty HIV-positive patients on ART was applied. Biochemical outcome indicators extracted from patient records included serum albumin, haemoglobin, body mass index trajectories, and CD4 count change over twelve months on therapy. Programme structure assessment evaluated the availability of nutritionist positions, biochemical monitoring protocols, and dietary counselling documentation. Results show that nutritionist staffing was present in only one of the four facilities. Biochemical nutritional monitoring was inconsistently documented, with serum albumin measured in fewer than 40 percent of patient records at any timepoint. Patients in the facility with dedicated nutritionist support showed significantly better haemoglobin trajectories and greater CD4 recovery rates than patients in facilities without dedicated support. Patient survey data reveal that 67 percent of respondents had never received formal dietary counselling. The evaluation recommends mandatory nutritional biochemistry assessment at ART programme enrolment and six-monthly intervals in Ogun State HIV facilities. Keywords: nutritional biochemistry, HIV, antiretroviral therapy, programme evaluation, Ogun State.