Improving Food Security and Nutrition to Promote ART Adherence in Latin America

The purpose of this three-year study is to develop, implement, and pilot test a culturally appropriate, multi-component nutrition intervention for people living with HIV and food insecurity in Honduras, which is among the Latin America nations with the highest HIV prevalence rates. The investigators specific aims are to: 1. Explore the relationships between food security, nutrition, and HIV treatment access, utilization, and adherence, and examine key mediators and moderators of these relationships. 2. Develop a multi-component nutrition intervention to address food insecurity among Honduran HIV+ individuals and their families. 3. Evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of the intervention on (1) food security and nutritional status; (2) HIV care retention (clinic attendance), uptake of ART when recommended, and ART adherence; and (3) clinical outcomes (CD4 count, ART side effects, and opportunistic infections). 4. Examine key mediators and moderators of the intervention effects from among characteristics of the patient, household, and contextual setting.