Research proposal sample
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter outlines the background, problem statement, purpose, general and specific objectives, research questions, significance of the study, and scope of the study.
1.1 Background
Over the past two decades, HIV/AIDS has continued to spread globally, resulting in the deaths of millions of adults in their prime, disrupting families, pushing households into poverty, and leaving millions of children orphaned (UNAIDS, 2009). The epidemic primarily affects the most productive segments of the population, significantly reducing workforces, reversing years of economic and social progress, and in some cases, threatening political stability.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2009), approximately 39.5 million people were living with HIV by the end of 2006, including 37.2 million adults and 2.3 million children under the age of 15. In 2006 alone, there were 4.3 million new infections. Sub-Saharan Africa was particularly affected, with 2.8 million new infections and 24.7 million people living with HIV. Despite improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and care in many regions, the epidemic claimed 2.9 million lives in 2006.
In Uganda, despite efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, around 1 million people were living with the virus (MOH and ORC Macro, 2006). The Uganda HIV/AIDS sero-behavioral survey (2004-2005) reported an HIV prevalence rate of 6.7% among adults aged 18-59, with Kampala district having a higher prevalence of 8.5% compared to other regions. The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among this productive age group has significant implications for health, economic stability, and social well-being.
The introduction of potent antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 1996 revolutionized AIDS care in developed countries. Although ART is not curative and presents challenges such as side effects and drug resistance, it has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality rates, improved the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, and revitalized communities. As a result, HIV/AIDS is now viewed as a manageable chronic illness rather than a fatal disease. However, the majority of the 39.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS reside in developing countries, where access to these life-saving treatments remains limited, and the improved prognosis seen in developed nations is not widely shared (UNAIDS, 2009).
Pre-ART studies indicated that wasting was associated with reduced survival rates (Kotler et al., 1989). More recent studies involving patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have shown that wasting still occurs and remains a significant predictor of mortality (Wanke et al., 2002). While body composition studies have been conducted primarily in developed countries, revealing changes in body composition among HIV-positive individuals on HAART, similar data from resource-limited settings are scarce (Ott et al., 1993; Yelamos et al., 2001; Shikuma et al., 2004).
Good nutrition, along with continuous monitoring of body composition changes and antiretroviral treatment, is crucial for the well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Given this context, this study aims to investigate the effects of antiretroviral drugs on the nutritional status of adults aged 18-50 years, with a specific focus on Bweyogerere Health III.
