Knowledge and behavior change of people living with HIV through nutrition education and counseling

HIV, AIDS and nutrition are interconnected. In the HIV Integrated Care Unit of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Public Hospital, nutrition education and counseling services are provided within a collaborative service for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed to determine influence of nutrition education and counseling to knowledge and behavior of PLWH. This study was conducted with quasi experimental design using treatment and control groups. The treatment group consisted of 25 samples and 29 samples for control group. Samples were adults between 18 – 50 years old selected by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. A pretested questionnaire was used to assess knowledge. Paired t-test sample was used to analyze data. This study was conducted on May – July 2014. Based on results of this study, there was effect in form of knowledge change (p value = 0.000) with score 6.38 point lower on the control group and any significant differences in behavior change (p value = 0.048) for the treatment group after receiving nutrition education and counseling. This study shows that nutrition and counseling using media of education which is more complete and continuously provided may improve knowledge and change behavior of PLWH.