HIV and Nutrition

Food and nutrition interventions are critical components of a comprehensive response to the HIV pandemic. As HIV grew to epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa, many communities, service providers, researchers, and donors recognized the need to address nutritional aspects of care. For many people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The infection causes or aggravates malnutrition through reduced food intake, increased energy needs, and/or poor nutrient absorption. Malnutrition in turn can hasten the progression of HIV and worsen its impact by weakening the immune system, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections, and reducing the effectiveness of treatment.

Food and nutrition interventions help to break this vicious cycle by improving immune functions, management of symptoms and side effects of treatment, nutritional status, quality of life, and productivity.

As recommended by PEPFAR’s Report on Food and Nutrition for People Living with HIV/AIDS and subsequent policy guidance, USAID’s approach to addressing food and nutrition needs of PLHIV targets food support to the following groups:

• Orphans and vulnerable children born to an HIV-infected parent
• HIV-positive pregnant and lactating women in programs to prevent the transmission of HIV to their children
• Adult patients in antiretroviral therapy (ART) and care programs with Body Mass Index of less than 18.5

USAID strengthens nutritional care and support for these vulnerable groups and has produced program guidance on nutritional care and support interventions, the nutrient requirements of PLHIV, and food and nutrition complications of ART. USAID helps countries in East and Southern Africa to adapt and apply HIV nutrition guidance to their specific contexts through national guidelines, training curricula and programs, counseling materials, monitoring and evaluation support, and capacity-building activities.

Related Links

• Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance 2
  FANTA-2 works to improve nutrition and food security policies, strategies, and programs through technical support to USAID and its partners, including host country governments, international organizations, and NGO implementing partners.