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VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2019 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Study to Assess the Health Profile of HIV Positive Orphans Living in Orphanages in India

Pranjal P Bobade, Samir S Singru, Kevin Fernandez

Keywords : Human immunodeficiency virus, Nutrition, Opportunistic infections, Orphans

Citation Information : Bobade PP, Singru SS, Fernandez K. Study to Assess the Health Profile of HIV Positive Orphans Living in Orphanages in India. 2019; 2 (2):73-75.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10082-02207

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-11-2019

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2019; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background and objectives: In the developing countries, the problem of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is serious. The burden of this disease in the developing countries cannot be estimated only from the disease morbidity and mortality. Children orphaned by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) are one of the most fearful but yet unnoticed problem in our Indian community. This study aims to assess the health profile of HIV positive orphans in relation to physical health of HIV orphans. The objectives of the study were to assess the physical health profile of HIV positive orphans with respect to nutritional status and presence of opportunistic infections in HIV positive orphans of selected orphanages. Materials and methods: Design of the study was cross-sectional. The study was carried out from September 2013 to March 2015. With convenient sampling, two orphanages exclusively for HIV positive orphans were selected. The total number of orphans from both the orphanages was 84. The universal sampling method was used and all the HIV positive orphans were included in the study. Physical health of the HIV positive orphans was assessed by medical examination conducted by the investigator, anthropometry, and additional information procured from medical records of the orphans. Presence of any opportunistic infection was assessed by opportunistic infection checklist. Results and conclusion: In the present study, it was observed that 22 orphan children (26%) were underweight. It was observed that the total number of orphan children having opportunistic infection was 21 (25%) and the most common opportunistic infection was pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (8, 38%).


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