Food insecurity affecting elderly living with HIV in townships

Published November 30, 2018, by admin

Study shows that food or the lack thereof is a significant theme in older people’s lives

Poor nutrition and food insecurity are potential barriers to elderly people living with HIV in Langa and Khayelitsha taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) effectively.

This is according to a recent study funded by the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security(CoE) and puts the spotlight on people older than 50 living with HIV and how food insecurity affects their adherence to ART and their access to health care.

The research also highlights the need to explore the messaging that older people receive from providers about food and the interaction or need for food, and whether the messaging is adequately tailored to older people living with HIV and their ability to access sufficient food.

University of theWestern Cape (UWC) Professor Lucia Knight, who is the project leader of the study, said their research was the first to explore food insecurity and hunger among older South Africans living with HIV, and the way in which this interacted with ART access and adherence.

“By focusing on older persons in an urban setting, the study aims to fill a critical gap and provide essential insights on older South Africans’ experiences with HIV.

This article was originally published by Cape Times. Access the full article here