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Food Insecurity, Depression, and Energy Security Among Individuals Living With HIV/AIDS In Rural Appalachia

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2011, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Food and Nutrition (Health and Human Services).
Individuals living with HIV/AIDS are faced with numerous issues including access to medications and food, as well as the struggle to pay for day-to-day expenses, such as utilities. Food insecurity is linked with risk and occurrence of chronic diseases, poor diabetes and chronic disease management as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and poor HIV management. An ailment that requires an individual to be food secure for optimum treatment is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease of the human immune system caused by HIV. Research also shows that as heating costs go up, low-income families are often forced to choose between heating or eating, increasing the chances of food insecurity. Apart from being associated with food insecurity, depression is a risk factor for noncompliance with medical treatment. As part of a larger study, this study examined the levels of food security, energy security (ability to secure utilities), and depression in individuals living with HIV/AIDS in rural Appalachian. Online and mailed surveys were employed for data collection. Participants (n = 82) were certified by case managers or organizations as being HIV-positive. Majority of the sample were male (n = 63), white (n = 59), and African-American/non-Hispanic (n = 14). A third of the participant households were highly food secure (n = 28); 12.5% (n = 10) were marginally food secure; 14.6% (n = 12) had low food security, and 39% (n = 32) had very low food security. Nearly 50% (n = 38) of participant households were energy secure; 18.3% (n = 15) were moderately energy insecure; and 35.4% (n = 29) were severely energy insecure. Participants were categorized as depressed as follows: minimally depressed (24, 29.3%), mildly (27, 32.9%), moderately (10, 12.2%), moderately severely (8, 9.8%), or severely (10, 12.2%). Twenty-two (26.8%) of the participants did not smoke at all; 25.6% (n = 21) smoked some days; and 25.6% (n = 21) smoked everyday. Food insecurity was significantly correlated with energy insecurity (tau = 0.394, p < .001) and depression (tau = 0.406, p < .001). There was no relationship between food insecurity and medication nonadherence (tau = 0.095, p = 0.324) and smoking (tau = 0.214, p = 0.061). This study supports that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have decreased access to resources needed for food and utilities and are prone to depression. Further studies should examine the implications of these findings to support the development of programs to improve the well-being of these individuals.
David H. Holben, PhD (Advisor)
Darlene Berryman, PhD (Committee Member)
Tania Basta, PhD (Committee Member)
160 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bansah, A. K. (2011). Food Insecurity, Depression, and Energy Security Among Individuals Living With HIV/AIDS In Rural Appalachia [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1312916096

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bansah, Abednego. Food Insecurity, Depression, and Energy Security Among Individuals Living With HIV/AIDS In Rural Appalachia. 2011. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1312916096.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bansah, Abednego. "Food Insecurity, Depression, and Energy Security Among Individuals Living With HIV/AIDS In Rural Appalachia." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1312916096

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)