Can an agricultural program help food insecure women with HIV in Kenya?
Food insecurity is a major challenge for women living with HIV in Kenya, affecting their ability to stay healthy and adhere to treatment. The Shamba Maisha program was designed to address this by providing agricultural training and supplies. Research shows that this program significantly reduced food insecurity and improved mental health and social support, regardless of whether women became pregnant during the study.
What the research says
A cluster-randomized controlled trial called Shamba Maisha enrolled 396 food insecure women with HIV in Kenya 5. The intervention group received an in-kind loan for a micro-irrigation pump, seeds, and fertilizer, plus training on sustainable agriculture and financial management 9. Over 24 months, the intervention led to a greater decline in food insecurity compared to the control group, with similar benefits for women who became pregnant and those who did not 5. Specifically, food insecurity scores dropped by about 3.4 points more in the intervention group 5. The program also reduced depressive symptoms and internalized stigma, and improved social support 9. These effects were comparable for widowed and married women, though widowed women were older and more likely to be household heads 9. Land tenure security influenced how much women could benefit from the intervention, with those who felt insecure about their land being less able to make long-term investments 11. Overall, the agricultural livelihood intervention shows promise for improving food security and HIV-related outcomes in this population.
What to ask your doctor
- How can I find out if there are agricultural livelihood programs like Shamba Maisha available in my area?
- What support is available for food insecurity while I am on HIV treatment?
- Could participating in a farming program affect my HIV medication schedule or side effects?
- Are there any risks or considerations for pregnant women in such programs?
- How can I address land security issues that might affect my ability to benefit from agricultural interventions?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.