Agricultural livelihood intervention reduced food insecurity among food insecure women with HIV in KenyaTraining women in farming skills reduced hunger for pregnant and non-pregnant HIV patients in Kenya

AIDS (London, England) Published May 1, 2026 Study authors: Murnane Pamela M, Bukusi Elizabeth A, Otieno Phelgona, Frongillo Edward A, Burger Rachel L, Weke Ell… PubMed ↗ NCT02815579 ↗ DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

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Key Takeaway

Consider agricultural livelihood interventions to improve food security among food insecure women with HIV.

This study was a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 396 women with HIV in Kenya. The population consisted of food insecure women who received either an agricultural livelihood intervention involving agribusiness training and supplies or standard care as controls. The follow-up period was 24 months.

Regarding the primary outcome, the intervention led to a greater decline in food insecurity compared to controls. For women who became pregnant, the effect size was 3.35 points with a 95% CI of -5.63 to -1.06. For women who did not become pregnant, the effect size was 3.43 points with a 95% CI of -4.34 to -2.52. Psychosocial outcomes showed comparable effects between pregnant and nonpregnant women.

In a specific subgroup analysis, empowerment among controls with incident pregnancy was associated with disempowerment. The difference in trend for this outcome was -0.22 with a 95% CI of -0.44 to -0.00. Safety data, including adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, were not reported. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported.

The practice relevance suggests that agricultural livelihood interventions may hold promise for improving pregnancy outcomes through improved maternal food security. However, the study design was a secondary analysis, and absolute numbers for outcomes were not reported. The direction of the primary findings was beneficial, while the specific empowerment finding in controls was negative.

Many women living with HIV in Kenya struggle to find enough food for themselves and their families. A new analysis looked at whether teaching these women farming skills could change that reality. The study followed 396 women in Kenya for two years. Some received training and supplies to start small businesses, while others received standard care.

The results showed clear benefits. Women who got the agricultural training saw a greater drop in food insecurity than those in the control group. This improvement happened for both women who became pregnant and those who did not. The training also helped with social support and reduced feelings of depression and stigma.

However, the study found a warning sign. Among women in the control group who became pregnant, their sense of empowerment actually declined. The researchers noted that the main benefit was the reduction in hunger, which is a critical need for this population.

What this means for you:

Farming training reduced hunger for HIV patients in Kenya, even during pregnancy.

Study Details

Study typeRct

EvidenceLevel 2

PublishedMay 2026

PMID41467698

TrialNCT02815579

View Original Abstract ↓

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether effects of an agricultural livelihood intervention on food insecurity and psychosocial outcomes remained robust in pregnant compared to nonpregnant women living with HIV, and whether potentially negative associations between pregnancy and these outcomes were alleviated by the intervention. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the Shamba Maisha cluster-randomized controlled trial ( N = 396 women; NCT02815579). The intervention included agribusiness training and supplies. METHODS: Food insecure women with HIV in Kenya were followed for 24 months between 2016 and 2019. Food insecurity, empowerment, social support, depression, HIV stigma, and intimate partner violence were collected at all visits. We estimated the effect of the intervention on trends for each outcome via mixed-effects regression, separately for women who did and did not become pregnant during follow-up, and whether trends differed by pregnancy status, separately by arm and adjusted for demographic factors. RESULTS: In comparison to controls, the intervention was associated with a greater decline in food insecurity among women who became pregnant (3.35 points, 95% confidence interval (CI): -5.63, -1.06) and who did not become pregnant (3.43 points, 95% CI: -4.34, -2.52). Effects on psychosocial outcomes were also comparable in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Having an incident pregnancy was associated with disempowerment among controls (difference in trend -0.22, 95% CI -0.44, -0.00) but not in the intervention arm. CONCLUSIONS: We observed comparable benefits of an agricultural livelihood intervention on food security and psychosocial outcomes regardless of pregnancy status. Agricultural livelihood interventions may hold promise for improving pregnancy outcomes through improved maternal food security.

Agricultural livelihood intervention reduced food insecurity among food insecure women with HIV in KenyaTraining women in farming skills reduced hunger for pregnant and non-pregnant HIV patients in Kenya

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Agricultural livelihood intervention reduced food insecurity among food insecure women with HIV in KenyaTraining women in farming skills reduced hunger for pregnant and non-pregnant HIV patients in Kenya

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