Food Assistance is Associated with Improved Body Mass Index, Food Security and Attendance at Clinic in an HIV Program in Central Haiti: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
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Food Assistance is Associated with Improved Body Mass Index, Food Security and Attendance at Clinic in an HIV Program in Central Haiti: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
| Title: | Food Assistance is Associated with Improved Body Mass Index, Food Security and Attendance at Clinic in an HIV Program in Central Haiti: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study |
| Author: |
Ivers, Louise C; Gregory Jerome, J; Chang, Yuchiao; Freedberg, Kenneth Alan
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. |
| Citation: | Ivers, Louise C, Yuchiao Chang, J Gregory Jerome, and Kenneth A Freedberg. 2010. Food assistance is associated with improved body mass index, food security and attendance at clinic in an HIV program in central Haiti: a prospective observational cohort study. AIDS Research and Therapy 7: 33. |
| Full Text & Related Files: |
2940780.pdf (505.7Kb; PDF) 
|
| Abstract: | Background: Few data are available to guide programmatic solutions to the overlapping problems of undernutrition and HIV infection. We evaluated the impact of food assistance on patient outcomes in a comprehensive HIV program in central Haiti in a prospective observational cohort study. Methods: Adults with HIV infection were eligible for monthly food rations if they had any one of: tuberculosis, body mass index (BMI) >18.5kg/m\(^2\), CD4 cell count >350/mm\(^3\) (in the prior 3 months) or severe socio-economic conditions. A total of 600 individuals (300 eligible and 300 ineligible for food assistance) were interviewed before rations were distributed, at 6 months and at 12 months. Data collected included demographics, BMI and food insecurity score (range 0 - 20). Results: At 6- and 12-month time-points, 488 and 340 subjects were eligible for analysis. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that at 6 months, food security significantly improved in those who received food assistance versus who did not (-3.55 vs -0.16; P > 0.0001); BMI decreased significantly less in the food assistance group than in the non-food group (-0.20 vs -0.66; P = 0.020). At 12 months, food assistance was associated with improved food security (-3.49 vs -1.89, P = 0.011) and BMI (0.22 vs -0.67, P = 0.036). Food assistance was associated with improved adherence to monthly clinic visits at both 6 (P > 0.001) and 12 months (P = 0.033). Conclusions: Food assistance was associated with improved food security, increased BMI, and improved adherence to clinic visits at 6 and 12 months among people living with HIV in Haiti and should be part of routine care where HIV and food insecurity overlap. |
| Published Version: | doi://10.1186/1742-6405-7-33 |
| Other Sources: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2940780/pdf/ |
| Terms of Use: | This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA |
| Citable link to this page: | http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:8350340 |
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