Department of Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
PLoS One. 2023 Mar 14;18(3):e0282857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282857. eCollection 2023.
Food insecurity is associated with poor mental health among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This qualitative study explored the mental health experiences of PLHIV participating in a medically appropriate food support program.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted post-intervention (n = 34). Interview topics included changes, or lack thereof, in mental health and reasons for changes. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and double-coded. Salient themes were identified using an inductive-deductive method.
Positive changes in mental health self-reported by PLHIV included improved mood and reduced stress, worry, and anxiety. Participants attributed these changes to: 1) increased access to sufficient and nutritious foods, 2) increased social support, 3) reduced financial hardship, 4) increased sense of control and self-esteem, and 5) reduced functional barriers to eating.
Medically appropriate food support may improve mental health for some PLHIV. Further work is needed to understand and prevent possible adverse consequences on mental health after programs end.
食物不安全与艾滋病毒感染者（PLHIV）的心理健康不良有关。本定性研究探讨了参与医学上适当的食物支持计划的 PLHIV 的心理健康体验。
干预后进行半结构式访谈（n=34）。访谈主题包括心理健康的变化或缺乏变化以及变化的原因。访谈进行了录音、转录和双编码。使用归纳演绎法确定突出主题。
PLHIV 自我报告的心理健康的积极变化包括改善情绪和减轻压力、担忧和焦虑。参与者将这些变化归因于：1）获得足够和营养丰富的食物的机会增加，2）社会支持增加，3）经济困难减轻，4）控制感和自尊心增强，以及 5）减少进食的功能障碍。
医学上适当的食物支持可能会改善一些 PLHIV 的心理健康。需要进一步研究以了解和预防计划结束后对心理健康可能产生的不利后果。
