Household Food Security and HIV/AIDS in a Rural District of Malawi during a Famine

Valerie A. Paz Soldan, Tulane University
Aimee Benson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Janine Barden-Ofallon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Joseph deGraft-Johnson, Save the Children
Thomas Bisika, University of Malawi

The association between HIV/AIDS and household food insecurity has been documented, particularly in rural regions. This association is bound to be exacerbated by famine. Using data from the Malawi Pregnancy and STI Risk Perception and Avoidance Study in a rural district between July 2000 and May 2002, we examined the association between various household characteristics – including whether anyone in the household is infected with HIV, gender and occupation of head of household (HHH), and demographic composition of household – and two measures for food security: (1) reported household food shortage, and (2) having livestock. Data about food security and HIV status were measured when there was a famine in Malawi (March-May 2002). Preliminary results indicate a statistically significant association between household income level and both measures of food security. Also, an association between having livestock and the gender of HHH and age of HHH was also found.