Nutritional status, food security and coping strategies among people living with hiv in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

HIV and AIDS pandemic progress in the context of severe food insecurity particularly in developing countries. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the nutritional status, food security, and coping strategies among adult people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) attending Care and Treatment Centres (CTC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data was collected using structured questionnaires with both open and closed questions. A multistage random sampling was used to obtain the CTCs and study subjects. Of the total of 446 PLHA interviewed, 52.2% experienced food insecurity. The prevalence of food insecurity was significantly higher (66.0%) among those without than those with formal education (36.5%) (P<O.OOl). Those with formal employment had significantly lower prevalence (33.3%) of food insecurity than those with informal employment (57.1 %) (P=O.017). Food insecurity was significantly associated with underweight (OR=2.2; 95%CI, 1.4-3.5). The frequency of underweight was significantly lower (12.5%) among those with post-primary education that those without education (35.9%) (P<O.OOl). The most common coping strategies included borrowing money or food (55.8%) and changing to less preferred foods (53.3%). In conclusion, food insecurity is frequent among PLHA in Dar es Salaam. It is important that strategies to control HIV and AIDS target vulnerable households in order to avoid the negative impact of food insecurity and deaths. HIV control programs should work with communities and other stakeholders to identify ways to alleviate food insecurity through economic empowerment strategies.