Under Nutrition and Its Determinants among Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Under nutrition and human immune deficiency virus/HIV have a vicious cycle. This study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of under nutrition and determinants among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Google scholar, PubMed, Cochrane library and web of science data bases were searched. Studies were assessed using risk of bias assessment tool. The heterogeneity of study was assessed using I2 test statistics. Data were pooled and a random effect meta-analysis model was fitted to provide the prevalence of under nutrition. Twenty-one studies that satisfy the eligibility criteria were included. The pooled prevalence of under nutrition among adults receiving ART was 27.4% (95% CI: 24.4-31.4). The pooled analysis showed that lack of RUTF was more likely to lead to under nutrition [AOR=2.34 (95%CI: 1.85- 3.85)]. Also under nutrition was more likely among adults receiving ART with WHO clinical stage four [AOR=2.01 (95%CI: 1.91- 3.82). The pooled prevalence of under nutrition was high and Lack of RUTF as well as WHO clinical stage 4 showed significant associations with under nutrition. This finding has implication to develop policy to improve under nutrition and to continue RUTF supplement program as an integral part of HIV/AIDS continuum of care.