Impact of a Community-Based Dietary Counselling Intervention on the Nutritional Status of People Living With HIV and AIDS in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

People living with HIV and AIDS are at heightened nutritional risk due to increased metabolic demands, reduced dietary intake, and drug-nutrient interactions associated with antiretroviral therapy. Community-based dietary counselling offers a potentially scalable approach to improving nutritional outcomes in this population. This study assessed the impact of a structured dietary counselling intervention on the nutritional status of people living with HIV and AIDS in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test assessments was used. One hundred and sixty participants enrolled at two antiretroviral therapy clinics were assigned to intervention and comparison groups. The intervention consisted of eight weeks of individualised dietary counselling sessions delivered by trained dietitians. Nutritional status indicators including BMI, mid-upper arm circumference, haemoglobin, and dietary diversity scores were measured at baseline and at three months post-intervention. Data analysis involved paired t-tests and ANCOVA. Results showed significant improvements in BMI, dietary diversity scores, and haemoglobin levels in the intervention group compared to controls at three months. Antiretroviral therapy adherence was positively correlated with dietary improvement. Participants who received counselling in local languages demonstrated greater compliance with dietary recommendations. The study recommends integration of culturally adapted dietary counselling into HIV care services in Kaduna State. Keywords: HIV and AIDS, dietary counselling, nutritional status, Kaduna State, antiretroviral therapy