Changes in HIV Internalized and Experienced Stigmas and Social Support After an Urban Gardens and Peer Nutritional Counseling Intervention Among People With HIV and Food Insecurity in the Dominican Republic.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
; 97(1): 55-62, 2024 Sep 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39116332
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Food insecurity and HIV-related stigma negatively affect HIV outcomes. Few studies have examined how food security interventions affect HIV-related stigma and social support.SETTING:
Two HIV clinics in the Dominican Republic.METHODS:
A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial of an urban gardens and peer nutritional counseling intervention was conducted to examine outcomes of HIV-related stigmas and social support. Adult patients (≥18 years of age) with moderate or severe household food insecurity and evidence of suboptimal ART adherence and/or a detectable viral load were enrolled; standard measures of internalized and experienced stigmas and social support were collected at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Intervention clinic participants received training and materials from agronomists for a home garden, 3-4 sessions of nutritional counseling from the clinic's peer counselor, and a garden produce cooking workshop facilitated by professional nutritionists.RESULTS:
Of 109 study participants (46 intervention and 63 control), 103 (94%) completed 12-month follow-up. Difference-in-differences multivariate longitudinal linear regressions adjusting for sociodemographic factors found that intervention participants had reduced internalized stigma by 3.04 points (scale 0-32) at 12 months (P = 0.002); reduced probability of experiencing HIV-related stigma or discrimination in the past 6 months (20 percentage points at 6 months, P = 0.05 and 25 percentage points at 12 months, P = 0.02); and modestly improved social support at 12 months (1.85 points on 30-pt scale, P = 0.093).CONCLUSION:
A fully powered, larger trial is needed to establish the efficacy of the intervention and assess pathways by which the intervention may improve HIV stigma and social support.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Support
/
HIV Infections
/
Counseling
/
Social Stigma
/
Food Insecurity
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Caribe ingles
/
Dominica
/
Republica dominicana
Language:
En
Journal:
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
Journal subject:
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
United States