| dc.description.abstract | Attaining Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) in its totality continues to be a global challenge, especially in developing countries, including Uganda which is ranked among the least nourished nations in the world. In the face of HIV/AIDS, food and nutrition security is further compromised due to reduced productivity from on-farm and off-farm activities as well as diverted savings. This study's objectives were; (i) understanding the FNS situation for households of women living with HIV/AIDS and what drives such status; (ii) exploring behavioural effects of targeted nutrition education interventions and eventually FNS outcomes, and; (iii) assessing the effect of saving behaviour on consumption expenditure among households for women living with HIV/AIDS. Using a randomized control trial design, two waves of data were collected over a period of two years from 2,631 women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda using face-to-face interviews. A mix of descriptive and econometric methods was used during the analysis. Results indicate that households in less economically vulnerable regions have more diversified diets but less economic access while those from more economically vulnerable regions have less diversified diets and are more undernourished. The
situations were significantly influenced by employment status, access to credit, off-farm incomes, social networks, farm diversity, and women’s decisions on land. Findings indicated that women responded to nutrition education by adjusting on-farm and off-farm labour supply and engaging in off-farm activities while the households responded by adjusting the diversity of crops or livestock on their farms. Nutrition education significantly improved food nutrition outcomes at the household but not individual level. Furthermore, savings significantly (P<0.001) increased expenses related to children’s education and off-farm activities but not on-farm, food, and health. It was concluded that households from more economically vulnerable are more likely to experience low physical food access while it is low economic food access among their counterparts. The situation could be improved by promoting and supporting food diversity in more economically vulnerable communities as well as off-farm income-generating activities in the less economically vulnerable. Nutrition education targeted is necessary but not sufficient if issues of access to food are not addressed. Lastly, saving behavior does not directly smoothen food consumption expenditure but do so through investments in off-farm income-generating activities. | en_US |
