<b>LINEAR PROGRAMMED DIETARY PLAN DATASET </b><b>ON IMPROVING ENERGY INTAKE AMONG CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV AGED 2-5 YEARS</b>

Most children living with HIV have decreased energy intake due to loss of appetite, which results in weight loss. The diets of many children living with HIV do not meet the recommended levels of energy intake. This study dataset was collected to test the effectiveness of a linear programmed dietary plan in improving the energy intake of children living with HIV aged 2-5 years in the Simiyu region in Tanzania.The study dataset was from a cluster randomized control trial designed with both intervention and control arms and used a quantitative approach. Care and treatment center (CTCs) was the unit of randomization. The study involved 200 asymptomatic children living with HIV aged 2 – 5 years. The linear programmed dietary plans were developed with 1390 Kcals. The linear programmed dietary plan education was provided to the intervention group. Questionnaires were used to measure nutrition knowledge and attitude. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to analyze the data.There was a significant increase in mean knowledge change (mean change) =2.48(95%CI=1.5-3.3), P=<0.01) as a result of an intervention (F=5.1; P=0.025) with an effect size of (Cohen’s d=0.5{95%CI=0.21-0.78}.The mean change for attitude was 8.49{95%CI=7.02-9.96}, P=<0.001 with significant strength of the intervention F=48.9; P=0.001) with effect size (Cohen’s d =1.2{95%CI=0.87-1.48}.The mean change for energy intake was 351.82(95%CI =303.20-400.44}, P=<0.001) with significant strength of the intervention F=57.95; P=0.001) and effect size (Cohen’s d=1.5(1.29-1.73)The intervention effectively increased knowledge and changed attitudes, increasing energy intake among this population.