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

Nutritional Requirements forHealthy Adolescent PregnancyWhat is known• Nutritional risk increases because of combinedneed of growing adolescent and growing fetus• Energy needs should be considered for normalgrowth of the teenager and weight gain needs forpregnancy• An extra 300 kcal/day are needed in the 2nd and3rd trimesters• Younger adolescent girls (13-16 years old) mayneed even higher energy intakesNutritional Requirements forHealthy Adolescent PregnancyWhat is known, cont.• Pregnant adolescent girls should not eat less than2,000 kcal/day (as per individual energyrequirements)• Protein requirements increase for the normalgrowth and development of the teenager and ofthe fetus• Needs for iron, folic acid, and zinc increase (amultivitamin supplement may help meet theseincreased needs)Nutritional Requirements for HIV+Pregnant and Lactating AdolescentWhat is not known• Increased energy needs (as with the adult HIVpositivepregnant and lactating woman)• NO current recommendations for increase inprotein requirementsRole of Nutrition Care andSupport for the HIV-Positive Pregnant orLactating Woman orAdolescent GirlImportance of NutritionalWell-being for Pregnancy and Birth• Critical for an uncomplicated pregnancy, positivebirth outcome, and adequate quality and quantityof breastmilk production• Increased nutritional risk and hence increased riskof morbidity and mortality in pregnancy and poorpregnancy outcome in HIV-infected women• Increased risk of vertical transmission of HIC ifHIV-positive mother has poor nutritional statusduring pregnancyRole of Nutrition Care andSupport• Studies have shown that clinical outcome of HIV ispoorer in people with compromised nutrition• Improving nutrition can help prevent weight loss,strengthen the immune system, and delay HIVdisease progression, allowing the mother toremain productive• Nutrition care should be part of a comprehensiveprogram that helps the HIV-infected person andaffected family members