Association of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with Food Security and Nutrition Status among Persons Living with HIV

Aims: Nutritional status can be compromised by food insecurity which is common among HIV infected persons. Providing food assistance is expected to improve food insecurity and nutritional status among persons infected with HIV. This study aimed at examining the relationship of participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest food assistance program in the United States, with food security and nutritional status among HIV infected adults.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was used in this study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Miami, FL, USA, between April 2011 and August 2012.
Methodology: We included 159 HIV infected individuals in this study, 113 participants were SNAP recipients while 46 were not. All study participants were, however, eligible to participate in SNAP. Each participant completed demographic and food security surveys as well as dietary and nutrition status assessment. Statistical analyses were conducted using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results: More than half (56%) of the sample experienced food insecurity and had inadequate intakes of several nutrients. There were no significant differences in food security level and nutritional status between SNAP participants and eligible non-participants, even after controlling for demographic and health characteristics. Individuals with very low food security had 4.7 times increased odds (95% CI: 1.29-17.38) of illicit drugs use, which was prevalent (38%) among HIV+ SNAP participants in Miami. Drug users were more than twice likely to have inadequate intakes of vitamins B1, B2, B6, and zinc, compared to non-drug users.
Conclusion: Our results do not support an association between SNAP participation and food security or nutritional status in this cohort of HIV infected individuals with prevalent substance abuse. However, it demonstrates that food insecurity and inadequate nutrient intake continues to be prevalent among HIV infected adults and it is related to drug abuse. Resources need to be identified and targeted at addressing both food insecurity and poor nutritional outcomes among populations of HIV infected adults.