141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

287550
Medical care and health outcomes of food and nutrition services for persons living with HIV/AIDS: Implications for maintenance in care and cost savings

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Angela A. Aidala, PhD , Mailman School of Pubic Health, Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY
Karen Pearl, MA , Executive/Government Relations, God's Love We Deliver, New York, NY
Introduction. The purpose of this study is to investigate longitudinal patterns of food insecurity , receipt of food and nutrition services, and outcomes for engagement with HIV primary care and health of HIV-positive adults. Methods. Measures of food insecurity and use of food and nutrition services were collected by in-person interviews conducted between 2003 and 2010 for a cohort study of PLWHA residing in New York City (N=693) and the Tri-County suburban region north of the City (N=484). Results.Rates of food insecurity are high and at each interview period and more than half of the sample report relying on food assistance programs (e.g. group meals, food pantry). Persons who are food insecure are at risk for poor connection to HIV treatment. The odds of 2+ missed appointments for HIV medical care in the 6 mos prior to interview are twice as high for the food insecure as for others, controlling for wide range of personal, clinical, and service use characteristics(AOR 1.98, CI 11.4,2.8). However the food insecure who receive FN services and are no longer food insecure by 12 month followup interview are significantly less likely to report missed appointments during the follow up period compared to those with continuing food and nutritional needs (AOR 0.12, CI 0.021,0.69). Conclusion.Findings underscore the importance of integrating food and nutritional services with medical care and other services for PLWHA to improve maintenance in care and health outcomes and costs saving implications of incorporating effective food and nutritional services into models of care.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the association of food insecurity among PLWH in a high resource setting with poor retention in HIV primary care and increased emergency department visits. Analyze the consequences of food insecurity for HIV clinical outcomes and functional health. Understand the role of medically informed food and nutrition services for improved connection to HIV primary care and health outcomes.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the Food Need, Food Assistance, and Health Outcomes among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS: Research to Inform Advocacy project which provides the data for this analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.