It has been estimated by the US bureau that by the end of 2000, 15.6 million children around the world had lost a mother, father or both to HIV/AIDS and by 2010, at least 44 million children will have lost a mother, father or both parents to AIDS but by 2009 children orphaned from HIV/AIDS worldwide ranged from 14.4 to 18.8 million (UNAIDS, 1998). According to the UN, the country Nigeria has the largest number of orphans from HIV at 2,500,000 orphans followed by South Africa at 1,900,000 orphans (Ellen and Aaron, 2000). As the number of orphans varies between countries, so does it vary between different regions within those countries. Particular areas may have higher or lower percentages of orphans, largely depending on the local HIV prevalence rates. There are also substantial differences between states, rural and urban areas with Abia at 7%, Kano 6.3%, Bauchi 4.8% and Abuja 8%. The age of orphans, however, is fairly consistent across countries. Surveys suggest that overall, about 15% of orphans are 0 to 4 years old, 35% are 5 to 9 years old, and 50% are 10 to 14 years old (UNICEF, 2005).

Parental HIV-related illness and death often lead to decreased household resources due to treatment costs and job loss, which may affect health care and the nutritional status of children. Death of even one parent could result in changes in living arrangements, displacement, and lack of availability of resources for schooling, health care, and food for children (Meyer, 2000). In sub-Saharan Africa, a mother’s death is more likely to result in changes in living arrangements for children, whereas a father’s death is more likely to reduce resource availability. Care providers for orphans tend to be elderly persons, who are generally less likely and less capable of providing proper health care and schooling. Parental HIV seropositive status also affects the psychosocial adjustment of children (Watts et al., 2007).

Stigma associated with HIV/AIDS contributes further to the vulnerability of these children. Orphaned and fostered children are more likely to be discriminated against in schooling and health care, and are more prone to neglect and abuse (UNICEF, 2013). The objectives of this study was to carry out nutritional status assessment of the respondents using anthropometry, evaluate their current feeding practices using food frequency questionnaire and design and implement a food based intervention to improve the nutritional status of the children, incorporating elements of nutrition education.

The study was carried out in Bauchi metropolis, a city in north-eastern Nigeria being the capital of Bauchi state. The state has 32 HIV/AIDS support groups with 9 support groups in Bauchi metropolis instituted by the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA). Four of these support groups are for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS who may be infected or affected. They meet monthly in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching hospital and respondents for the study were drawn from this support group. Targeting the children in 4 (four) support groups, all the children in the support groups were enrolled for the study but 20 children were randomly selected (5 from each support group) for the intervention programme.

Study design

The study was done in 2 stages, viz; the first was a descriptive, cross sectional study where purposive sampling was used to select respondents (children and their guardians), while the second stage was an experimental study which involved random selection of severely malnourished children (≤-3SD underweight) and carrying out nutrition education and a food based intervention over a period of 1month and then computing changes in nutritional status. The sample size was calculated using the formula:

Where    N = required sample size

Z = value of confidence at 95% (1.96)

P = prevalence of children orphaned from HIV/AIDS -15% (UNICEF, 2005)

The sample size, after calculation was given as 196 but the total number of children in the 4 support groups was 194, so 194 correctly filled questionnaires were retrieved and analysed.

Instruments of data collection

A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and weighing scale was used to measure the weights of the respondents. Their heights were measured using a locally constructed, standardized stadiometer. A38-item Food Frequency questionnaire (constructed by the authors) was used in collecting food frequency consumption of the respondents. Statistical analysis was done by computing frequencies, range, and means with their standard deviations using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Respondents’ height-for-age and BMI-for-age were analysed using WHO AnthroPlus. Paired samples t-test was used to test for significant differences in mean weight gain, mean height-for-age and BMI-for-age before and after the intervention.

Ethical considerations

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi. Written, informed consent and assent was obtained from the guardians, and children that were recruited for the intervention study. Full disclosure on the procedures, discomfort and benefits was made to them and strict confidentiality steps were adhered to.

Treatment given to the intervention group

Twenty children and their guardians were randomly selected for a food-based intervention in which a highly nutrient dense food (“Kwash-pap”) was produced by the respondents and administered to the children. Respondents in the intervention group  were  taught about the importance of good nutrition and its benefits, and also the importance of hygiene in relation to health. The guardians of the children were mobilized to purchase the items needed to produce the Kwash-pap powder (a combination of finger millet, groundnut, soybeans and crayfish) which they prepared themselves collectively under strict supervision and then shared (3.5 kg) for each child which lasted for four weeks. The product was packaged into 125 g each, and the amount administered 3 to 4 times daily. Compliance was monitored through phone calls. The children’s weights and heights before and after the intervention were measured and the difference computed.

The Nutrient content of the food supplement was computed using Nigerian Food composition Tables (Ogunmodede, 2011) (Table 1).

Table 2 presents the socio-demographic characteristics of the guardians of the children. 114 (58.8%) had either a primary education or less while the rest had attained either secondary or tertiary education. Almost half of the 92 (47.4%) were petty traders while 30 (15.5%) were unemployed. About half 99 (51%) of the guardians were aunts to the children because many of them had lost both parents to HIV and AIDs.

In Table 3, the socio-demographic features of the orphaned children are shown. Majority 158 (80.1%) of the respondents were more than 5 years old, while more than half 103 (53.1%) were males. Of the proportion of students who were not in school, 34 (45.9%) reported either lack of fund or lack of support from the guardian as the reason for not being in school. Table 4 shows the living conditions of the respondents. More than half 103 (53.1%) of the respondents either had no toilet or were using bucket toilets or pit toilets. Almost equal proportions of the respondents were using borehole water and well water.

Table 5 presents the frequency of consumption of various foods by the respondents. The most frequently consumed cereals were rice 179 (92.3%) and maize 172 (88.7%), being consumed by most respondents between 2 to 4 times weekly. Beans 163 (84%) was the most frequently consumed legume, while yam 171(88.1%) was the most frequently consumed tuber. Meat and fish 130 (67%) versus 129 (66.5%) were the most frequently consumed animal proteins, while Water melon 145 (75.5%) was the most frequently consumed fruit, being consumed 5 to 6 times a week. Orange and garden eggs 147 (75.8%) versus 134 (69.1%) were also frequently consumed by the respondents. Table 6 presents the anthropometric status of the children. Thirty-four (17.6%) and 5 (2.6%) respectively were moderately and severely stunted, while 28 (14.4%) and 18 (9.3%) respectively were moderately and severely underweight.

Table 7 shows that there was no significant difference (p = 0.199) in the height-for-age of the children, whereas there were significant differences (p = 0.035), (p = 0.000) in their BMI-for-age and weight respectively before and after the intervention.

Among the limitations of this study was the fact that the children’s HIV/AIDs status was not determined. This is a possible confounding factor that can impact nutritional status negatively. Furthermore, documentation of the nutritional status of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is sparse, hence the dearth of relevant local information to this study findings.

According to the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

(1) In the case of unknown HIV status of children born from HIV infected mothers, nutritional and infant feeding support is essential.

(2) To mitigate the socioeconomic impact of AIDS, communities must be able to identify children and households most in need, prioritize their needs, and use local and external resources to increase their well-being and strengthen community safety nets.

(3) Ensuring ongoing care and support for orphans is critically important to their well-being. HIV-related programs need to include components for children and link with other child focus programs.

(4) Educational activities need to be linked to other interventions, such as nutrition and psychosocial, to have a holistic program that addresses influencing factors on children’s ability to attend school and maximize the benefits of education.

(5) Appropriate government policies are essential for the protection and well-being of orphans and other vulnerable children and their families. These policies must contain clauses to prohibit discrimination of access to medical services, education, employment, housing, and protect the inheritance rights of widows and orphans.

(6) Finally, further studies should be carried out in assessing the nutritional status of children orphaned from HIV/AIDS in Bauchi metropolis and other communities.

This study revealed that the prevalence of stunting and underweight is high among children orphaned from HIV/AIDs, their diet is inadequate in quality nutrients as indicated by their food consumption pattern, and that  food-based  interventions   can   improve   the   nutritional status of children orphaned by HIV/AIDs.

The Authors thank the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Rahama Women Initiative Bauchi State, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and the Bauchi State Agency for the control of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) for their assistance in making this research a success.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.