Exploring Factors Influencing Nutritional Supplementation With Moringa Oleifera Among Adult Hiv Patients on Dolutegravir Based Treatment at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka District, Zambia

HIV remains a major public health problem globally having claimed 40.4 million lives since the start of the epidemic. HIV alters nutrition by inducing an increase in energy expenditure and nutrient requirements, driven by both the immune response and the direct effects of viral replication. Nutrition deficiencies can compromise the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy making individuals with HIV more susceptible to opportunistic infections. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest HIV prevalence and is home to some of the most nutritionally unsecured countries in the world. Advancements in HIV treatment have been made but several deaths are still attributed to nutritional deficiencies. In the quest for improved treatment outcomes, dolutegravir-based regimens have gained prominence due to superior efficacy and tolerability compared to efavirenz-based regimens. Zambia rolled out dolutegravir-based as the preferred first-line regimen in 2018. However, the utilization of Moringa oleifera among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy is unknown. Therefore the study aimed to explore the knowledge, perception, attitude, cultural belief and utilization of Moringa oleifera nutrition supplements among adult HIV patients on dolutegravir-based treatment. The study used interviews to obtain data among adult patients aged 18 and above. Participants were selected using homogeneous purposive sampling until saturation of the ideas was reached. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis. Moringa utilization addressed nutritional deficiencies imperative to enhance the effectiveness of HIV treatment and improve the quality of life for individuals living with HIV. Conclusion and recommendation, the ministry of Health to consider strengthening policy that may promote the use of Moringa among patients on ART apart from cultural practices. Nutritional and health information is not enough to promote Moringa consumption and familiarity, but incorporating it into local foods with a high satiating power. Article visualizations: