(P18-041-24) Food Security, Nutrition Security, and Household Healthfulness Choice Among Elderly People Living With HIV in New Jersey: A Pilot Study

Objectives: This study aimed to describe how food security, nutrition security and household healthfulness choice (HHC) are related in elderly people living with HIV in New Jersey.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted with 18 participants from November 2023 to January 2024. Food security was measured using the USDA's 6-item short-form food security module. Nutrition security (4 items) and HHC (3 items) were assessed using tools developed by the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition. Both tools ranged from 0-4, and higher scores indicated greater nutrition security and HHC.

Results: The participants were mostly 60-69 years old (50%), identified as female (56%), Black or African American (94%) and had been living with HIV since 1985-2014. Most of them had annual household incomes < $50,000 (83%), previously incarcerated (39%), were current smokers (44%),, and had a high school or less education level (39%). Half of them (50%) were food insecure, and the average nutrition security and HHC scores were 2.9±0.9 and 2.8±0.8, respectively. Food insecurity was significantly associated with lower nutrition security (2.4 vs 3.4, p=0.008) but not HHC (2.6 vs 3.0, p=0.16).

Conclusions: This pilot study revealed a high prevalence of food insecurity among elderly people living with HIV in New Jersey, and a significant negative impact of food insecurity on nutrition security. Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing HHC and to design interventions to improve food and nutrition security in this vulnerable population.

Funding Sources: This study was supported by the New Jersey Health Foundation.