Abstract:
Community-based care and support services are limited in sub-Saharan Africa and as a result a high
number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are not getting the required care and support services. The aim of this study
was to assess the impact of food supplementation services for PLHIV in Ghana on weight gained and factors associated
with weight gained.
Methods: The study employed mixed methods study design involving quantitative and qualitative techniques. These
were structured questionnaire administered to 200 PLHIV selected through simple random sampling and a qualitative
component consisting of 14 semi-structured interviews with purposefully selected stakeholders and eight focus
group discussions with the beneficiaries.
Results: The analysis of the quantitative data showed on average, beneficiaries had gained weight [mean difference
in weight was 2 kg with 95 % CI (1.1, 2.9), P value <0.001]. Multivariate analysis showed that the support group
to which the beneficiary belonged was the most important determinant of gaining weight. Through the qualitative
interviews, beneficiaries indicated that the anti-retroviral drugs were making them hungry and the food helped to
alleviate that effect. Notwithstanding, they indicated that the food was nutritious, made them healthy and strong,
contributed to their weight gain and was their main sources of hope at home when they had no money.
Conclusions: A broad strategy of food supplementation for PLHIV should be implemented in different ways for different
support groups taking into account the differences between different support groups when planning such an
intervention.
