A small-scale agriculture program impacting food security in one HIV/AIDS-affected Zambian community: Analyses and Improvements

Introduction: To address food insecurity and malnutrition in HIV/AIDS-affected communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), numerous small-scale nutrition and agriculture interventions have been implemented. This study evaluated the HelpMercy Nutrition and Food Security Project (seed distribution) in Macha, Zambia, after one year. Study objectives included: 1) determining beneficiaries' perceived usefulness of the intervention, 2) evaluating the intervention, 3) determining the importance of education in the intervention, and 4) making recommendations for improvement.

Methods: Intervention outcomes and beneficiary ‘perceived usefulness' were measured using a survey of seed recipients (cross-sectional, n=64) that examined perceptions of barriers and benefits, planting results, intervention participation, and overall opinions. One focus group and two interviews were conducted. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed, identifying relationships among groups and trends among responses.

Results: Analyses demonstrated differences in beneficiary perceptions. A logistic regression model showed attendance at community-based nutrition and agriculture education sessions (CBES), household size, and number of seed types planted were predictors of perceived usefulness. Households who attended at least one CBES were more likely to perceive the intervention as useful (χ2 for trend, p=0.007); there was a linear relationship between number of CBES attended and perceived usefulness (Mann-Whitney, p=0.008). Perceived barriers and benefits were identified, and 60.3% of HelpMercy beneficiaries perceived the interventions as useful overall.

Conclusions: Results support previous research that agriculture interventions are more effective when combined with nutrition education. Program improvements are possible, and further research is needed to better understand the impact and benefits of small-scale nutrition and agriculture interventions for HIV-affected populations in SSA.