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

• Changes in eating behaviors associated, for example, with food availabilityissues, feeding pattern changes, and appetite changes• Morbidity that may result in nutritional changesComponents of the nutritional assessmentThe nutritional assessment should cover the child’s physical and biochemical(laboratory) data, nutrition history, medical history, and medication profile.1. Physical assessment• Anthropometric measurementso Growth monitoring measures normally include weight and age but shouldalso include height.o Weight changes are assessed monthly basis (a child should grow parallel tothe growth curves).• Measurements to assess changes in muscle mass• Screening for pallor (inner eyelids and palms) to assess anemia2. Biochemical data (where available and feasible)• Serum albumin• CD4 and viral load counts• Evaluation of anemia: iron (Hb), B 12, and folate status3. Nutrition history• Dietary intake, frequency and adequacy of food consumed (including breastmilkfor infants who are breastfed), exclusiveness of breastfeeding among infants229