Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: A Training Manual - Linkages Project

HANDOUT 6.2 A Guide to Nutritional Assessment for Pregnant andLactating Women with HIV InfectionThis handout can be used to supplement the Nutrition Job Aid for antenatal care inregions with high HIV prevalence for a more detailed nutritional assessment of theHIV-infected mother.Nutritionhistory• Dietary intake and adequacy, eating habits• Food intolerance and aversions to related symptoms• Dietary problems (e.g., poor appetite, difficulty chewing andswallowing, gastrointestinal problems, pain in mouth andgums)• Sanitation and hygiene practices in food preparation andhandling• Psychosocial factors contributing to inadequacy of intake(e.g., social isolation, depression, stigma, inability toprepare food)• Fatigue and physical activity• Use of vitamin and mineral supplements and alternativepractices• Knowledge about food and nutrition issuesPhysicalassessment• Anthropometric measurementsFor pregnant woman: Height, pre-pregnancy weight, weight gainduring pregnancy (mother’s weight gain should be at least 1kgper month in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy)For lactating woman: Height, current weight, pre-pregnancyweight, weight during pregnancy and 6 weeks post-partumweight, BMI159