Social determinants, lived experiences, and consequences of household food insecurity among persons living with HIV/AIDS on the shore of Lake Victoria, Kenya

Abstract

Food insecurity is a considerable challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately affecting persons living with HIV/AIDS. This study investigates the lived experience, determinants, and consequences of food insecurity and hunger among individuals living with HIV/AIDS on the shore of Lake Victoria in Suba District, Kenya. Parallel mixed methods included semi-structured interviews and administration of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale among a systematic sampling of 67 persons living with HIV/AIDS (49 of whom were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART)). All respondents were either severely (79.1%) or moderately (20.9%) food insecure; no respondents were mildly food insecure or food secure. Qualitative data and simple and multiple linear regression models indicated that significant determinants of food insecurity include increased age, a greater number of children, and not being married. A number of themes related to food insecurity and ART emerged, including: (1) an increase in hunger or appetite since initiating ART; (2) exacerbation of ART-related side effects; and (3) non-adherence to ART due to hunger, food insecurity, or agricultural work responsibilities. HIV interventions should address food insecurity and hunger, particularly among at-risk populations, to promote ART adherence and better health outcomes.

High magnitude of under nutrition among HIV infected adults who have not started ART in Tanzania--a call to include nutrition care and treatment in the test and treat model

“…Such low diversity diets predispose patients not only to macronutrient undernutrition but also to micronutrient deficits [8]. Poor feeding practices could also be associated with other social demographic disadvantages [21,22]. Studies have revealed a link between poor feeding practices with food insecurity, poverty, and other social demographic characteristics [8].…”

Measuring Food and Nutrition Security: Tools and Considerations for Use Among People Living with HIV

“…For example, several HIV cohorts in the US and Canada have relied on modified versions of the Radimer-Cornell scale [42][43][44][45][46]. The HFIAS has been used in several HIV cohorts in the US [47,48], and among HIV-positive populations in Zambia, Uganda and Kenya [49][50][51]. The Household Food Security Scale-Short Form (HFSS-SF) was recently applied in cohorts of PLHIV in Tanzania [52] and Vietnam [53].…”

Inseguridad alimentaria y adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en personas con VIH de México

“…hombres heterosexuales) pero no en otros (mujeres heterosexuales y varones homosexuales) 8 o bien la relación no existe 6 . Las investigaciones de paí-ses de bajo ingreso son cualitativas [9][10][11][12] o descriptivas 13 y se han realizado en África, mientras que la escasa evidencia epidemiológica muestra que la IA se relaciona positivamente con la no-adherencia al TAR 14,15 ; lo cual puede deberse a los escasos recursos disponibles en esas sociedades.…”