Food Insecurity is Associated with Household Utility Insecurity among Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural Appalachia

Abstract

Individuals living with HIV 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. This cross-sectional study examined the levels of food security and household utility security among individuals living with HIV/AIDS in rural Appalachia, as well as medication adherence. More than half of the participants (n = 45, 54.9%) were living in food insecure households and nearly half (n = 38, 46.2%) of participant households were energy secure. Food insecurity was significantly correlated with energy insecurity (tau = 0.394, P < .001) but not medication adherence (P > .05). This study supports that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have decreased access to resources needed for food and utilities.

Keywords:

• food security
• food insecurity
• household utility security (household energy security)
• HIV/AIDS
• utilities
• Appalachia