Clinical Factors Associated With Overweight/obesity and the Relationship Between Socio-demographic Factors and Overweight/obesity Among People Living With Hiv at Kajjansi Health Centre Iv. a Cross Sectional Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Overweight and obesity are predominant health distresses among people living with HIV (PLWH), impacting both their quality of life and treatment outcomes. The study aimed to determine the clinical factors associated with overweight/obesity and the relationship between socio-demographic factors and overweight/obesity among PLWH at Kajjansi Health Centre IV. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods approach was conducted on 50 PLWH. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and medical record reviews. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between various factors and overweight/obesity status. Results On clinical factors, dyslipidemia demonstrated an inverse relationship with overweight/obesity status, strengthening over time (baseline: χ² = 7.031, p = 0.008; end line: χ² = 12.500, p < 0.001). BMI showed increasingly strong positive correlations with metabolic markers from baseline to end line. Among socio-demographic factors, only gender emerged as a significant predictor of BMI at the end line (B = 12.116, p = 0.012), with females showing higher BMI. Conclusion Notably, dyslipidemia showed an unexpected inverse association with obesity, strengthening over time, while BMI increasingly correlated with metabolic markers. Gender emerged as the only significant socio-demographic predictor of BMI at the end line. Recommendation There should be a need for comprehensive, gender-sensitive weight management approaches as well as the importance of regular metabolic monitoring for all HIV patients and suggest future longitudinal research to better understand these temporal dynamics and develop targeted interventions.
Source: AfroGlobal Perspectives
Institutions: Mildmay Uganda, Uganda Christian University
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220125313