Louise C. Ivers|Yuchiao Chang|Jean-Gregory Jerome|Kenneth A. Freedberg
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
Brigham and Women's Hospital|Harvard University|Harvard University
data available guide programmatic solutions overlapping problems undernutrition hiv infection evaluated impact food assistance patient outcomes comprehensive hiv program central haiti prospective observational cohort studyadults hiv infection eligible monthly food rations one tuberculosis body mass index bmi 185kgm2 cd4 cell count 350mm3 prior 3 months severe socioeconomic conditions total 600 individuals 300 eligible 300 ineligible food assistance interviewed rations distributed 6 months 12 months data collected included demographics bmi food insecurity score range 0 20at 6 12month timepoints 488 340 subjects eligible analysis multivariable analysis demonstrated 6 months food security significantly improved received food assistance versus 355 vs 016 p 00001 bmi decreased significantly less food assistance group nonfood group 020 vs 066 p 0020 12 months food assistance associated improved food security 349 vs 189 p 0011 bmi 022 vs 067 p 0036 food assistance associated improved adherence monthly clinic visits 6 p 0001 12 months p 0033food assistance associated improved food security increased bmi improved adherence clinic visits 6 12 months among people living hiv haiti part routine care hiv food insecurity overlap