Food Access and Diet Quality Are Associated with Quality of Life Outcomes among HIV-Infected Individuals in Uganda |
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Authors: | Tia Palermo Rahul Rawat Sheri D. Weiser Suneetha Kadiyala |
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Affiliation: | 1. Stony Brook University (SUNY), Program in Public Health/Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America.; 2. Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C., United States of America.; 3. Division of HIV/AIDS, San Francisco General Hospital, UCSF, San Francisco, California, United States of America.; UNAIDS, Switzerland, |
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Abstract: | BackgroundFood insecurity is associated with poor nutritional and clinical outcomes among people living with HIV/AIDS. Few studies investigate the link between food insecurity, dietary diversity and health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS.ObjectiveWe investigated whether household food access and individual dietary diversity are associated with health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.MethodsWe surveyed 902 people living with HIV/AIDS and their households from two clinics in Northern Uganda. Health-related quality of life outcomes were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS)-HIV Survey. We performed multivariate regressions to investigate the relationship between health-related quality of life, household food insecurity and individual dietary diversity.ResultsPeople living with HIV/AIDS from severe food insecurity households have mean mental health status scores that are 1.7 points lower (p<.001) and physical health status scores that are 1.5 points lower (p<.01). Individuals with high dietary diversity have mean mental health status scores that were 3.6 points higher (p<.001) and physical health status scores that were 2.8 points higher (p<.05).ConclusionsFood access and diet quality are associated with health-related quality of life and may be considered as part of comprehensive interventions designed to mitigate psychosocial consequences of HIV. |
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