HIV and Severity of Seasonal Household Food-Related Coping Behaviors in Rural Ghana

Abstract

In-depth research was conducted to evaluate the seasonal food insecurity of HIV-positive and HIV-negative farm households in the Eastern Region, Ghana. A Coping Strategy Index (CSI) was used to assess household food-related coping behaviors. HIV-positive farm households often relied on both less severe and more severe coping behaviors, had a higher CSI, cultivated a smaller field area, harvested fewer food species from farms and gardens, and obtained income from fewer sources than HIV-negative farm households in both the post-harvest and lean seasons. We conclude that food insecurity is more severe in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative farm households in both seasons.

Keywords:

• HIV
• farm household
• coping behavior
• food security
• post-harvest season
• lean season

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support for this research was provided by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the African Women Leaders in Agriculture PhD program partnership between Winrock International and Wageningen University. The authors are grateful to the communities who participated in the study.