Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Nutritional Support for Children over

Two Years who are HIV Positive

Handout 3 - Module 3 Topic 2

Children who are HIV positive will often not grow and develop properly; and are at greater risk

of death. They can easily get illnesses such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections (ARI),

malaria, neurological problems and experience poor growth. They may also risk malnutrition

due to poor appetite, swallowing difficulties and nausea. As such, HIV infected children should

be given special attention to ensure they receive adequate nutrition and care.

Children infected with HIV need nutritious diets to boost their immune systems so they can deal

adequately with infections. Foods enriched with Vitamin A, in particular, can help to boost a

child’s immune system. Also, food for children with HIV must be prepared with extra hygienic

care, as their bodies are vulnerable to infections from germs found in food that is not cooked

adequately or prepared safely (for example, all dishes and cooking utensils must be clean).

Children infected with HIV need:

 Foods high in energy, proteins and micro-nutrients.

 To be fed more often, with smaller, frequent meals and snacks. This will aid the

absorbtion of nutrients better.

 To be fed with a variety of fruit and vegetables, to ensure adequate nutritional intake.

 To be fed with foods that are fortified with added micro-nutrients, if possible.

 Adequate clean water to drink (preferably boiled water that has been left to cool).

A child with HIV may experience a decreased food intake because of difficulties in eating due to

sores or ulcers in the mouth that make it hard to swallow food. Infections such as fevers and

respiratory infections (coughs) cause increased energy needs in children. Diarrhoea can result

in dehydration (water loss) and loss of nutrients, so increased energy requirements are needed.

Children with HIV also have a poor absorbtion of nutrients, so if a child’s diet is not adequate in

meeting the increased nutritional needs, the child may be at risk of malnutrition.

Some tips to aid the nutritional intake of children with HIV:

 Porridge can be enriched with milk, soya flour, groundnuts or simsim

 Add a small amount of uncooked vegetable oil to foods – this will aid digestion

 Vegetables and fruits such as bananas, pawpaws, pumpkins and avocados can be eaten

mashed to make them easier to swallow

 Avoid fried and spicy foods – they are hard to digest, cause irritation in the stomach

and can cause further diarrhoea

 Avoid sugary foods (sweets and cooldrinks) – they encourage fungal infections

 Yoghurt or maas helps to stop fungal infections in the stomach and aids digestion

 Dried pumpkin seeds and garlic are good for stopping stomach parasites

 The older the child, the more food they need to eat.

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Appendix 1, Handouts^327