EFFECT OF COVI SOUP ON BMI, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Globally, 37 million people living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19). The pandemic can potentiate adverse health outcomes for PLWH. Lack of an antiretroviral treatment (ART) for this acute infection halts the fight against COVID 19 threatening PLWH lives. Supportive therapy contributes in the fight against this pandemic. The main objective was to determine effect of Covi soup on BMI, immunological and hematological parameters among PLWH. Specific objectives were: to determine effect of Covi soup on; Body Mass Index (BMI); CD4+ cell count; Viral Load (VL) and hematological parameters. This was an Open Randomized Control Trial (RCT) conducted in Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital (KCTRH) Comprehensive Care Centre (CCC). Purposive sampling was used to select the study area and study site while systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. Block randomization using sequentially numbered opaque envelopes was used to place participants in either treatment group or control group. Approximately 48,752 are PLWH in Kakamega County from which a sample of 60 was selected for the study. A RCT formula was used to calculate a sample size of 30 for treatment and control group. Treatment group received standard care and Covi soup while the control group exclusively received standard care. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaire and laboratory report forms. Data was keyed in statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) and analysed using paired t-test to determine effect of Covi soup on BMI, CD4+ cell count, VL and hematological parameters. A total of 21(70%) participants in the control group and 20 (67%) in the treatment group were included in data analysis. The study findings showed no significant effect of Covi soup on the CD4+ cell count (p=0.838) and Hb (p=0.116) in the control group. There was a significant effect of Covi soup on CD4+ cell count (p=0.012) and Hb (p=0.010) in the treatment group. No significant effect was observed in the BMI (p=0.092, p=0.149), VL (p=0.051, p=0.298), MCV (p=0.635, p=0.122), MCH (p=0.870, p=0.352) and MCHC (p=0.800, p=0.528) in both the control group and treatment group respectively. The study concluded that Covi soup had an effect on the CD4+ cell count and Hb of PLWH in KCTRH. The findings of this study can be used by PLWH to prevent SARS-Cov-2 infection and reduce the severity of COVID 19.