Title Design of an Assessment of the Prevalence of Acute Malnutrition among People with HIV in Vietnam
Starting Date: ASAP
Location: Hanoi and/or Ho Chi Minh City
Background:
Malnutrition poses significant challenges for HIV care and treatment. HIV can cause or aggravate malnutrition through reduced food intake, increased energy needs, or poor nutrient absorption. Malnutrition can hasten the progression of HIV and worsen its impact by weakening the immune system, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections, and reducing the effectiveness of treatment. Food and nutrition interventions help break this vicious cycle by improving immune response, response to treatment, nutritional status, and quality of life. At the request of USAID/Vietnam, FANTA-2 is working with the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (GOV) and PEPFAR/ Vietnam to integrate food and nutrition care and support into HIV services through the development of national guidelines, training materials, and other technical resources.
Few reliable data are available in Vietnam on the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) among people living with HIV (PLHIV), although PEPFAR Partners report high levels of malnutrition among clients in OPC and home-based care programs. To strengthen and improve the quality of nutrition care and support services provided at clinical and community HIV care and treatment delivery points, an assessment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) will be conducted among adults and children with HIV in selected sites.
Objectives of the consultancy
- To describe the prevalence of SAM and MAM, in PLHIV in Vietnam
- To provide a basis to monitor trends and the impact of NAC program and food support programs in Vietnam
- To inform programming to incorporate nutrition effectively into HIV services, including procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for severely malnourished clients
- To strengthen the capacity of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) to coordinate and technically lead nutrition and HIV activities in the country.
- To develop and strengthen the capacity of clinicians in using anthropometric measurements for nutrition assessment.
Specific Responsibilities
Under the supervision and guidance of FANTA-2 staff, the consultant will undertake the following specific task:
- Prepare a written plan for the assessment that takes into consideration feasibility and ease of data collection and logistical and budget constraints. The plan should include the following:
Background information
Objectives
Clearly defined target population, including clear inclusion and exclusion criteria
Sampling methods, drawing a sample that is representative of the population of interest
Adequate sample size
Suggested data collection sites (selection criteria may include representation of regional characteristics)
Data collection methods
Data management plan
Data analysis plan
Tentative schedule for field work
The expert
A PhD in epidemiology or statistics
At least 5 years experience in designing epidemiological studies/surveys
Familiarity with HIV/AIDS data collection systems and or strategic information systems in Vietnam
Fluency in English
Please submit your letter of interest and a CV to [email protected] [1] with the subject “SAM/MAM Prevalence Study” before June 24th, 2010.