The food and nutritional needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are especially critical with HAART. While HAART significantly improves health, its complex regimen requires timed access to meals with specific nutritional content. To identify meal service use and needs among PLWHA in New York City (NYC) we conducted a needs assessment that obtained data from focus groups and nutritionists, as well as 3 client samples: PLWHA meal service agency client satisfaction surveys (CSS); HIV+ Medicaid study participants (CCS), and; "Out of Care" (OOC) persons. Altogether 1,551 PLHWA in NYC participated in this (convenience-sample) assessment. Food stamps were the most commonly used "meal" service (app. 75%) followed by group meals (app. 35%), across the 3 client samples. Persons who ate just <1 meal the previous day included: 10% of the CCS group; 50% of the OOC group, and' 52% of the CSS group. Among persons who ate just <1 meal the previous day, income-related reasons were more common than illness-related reasons for missing meals: (CCS=22% vs 11%; OOC=63% vs 48%; CSS=48% vs 45%). Based on these data, we estimate that over 12,000 PLWHA in NYC eat just <1 meal daily. Learning objectives: a) To describe how a comprehensive meal/nutritional needs assessment was conducted in NYC b) Present study data pertaining to meals service use and unmet needs among PLWHA in NYC c) Present NYC estimates of meals service use on needs, based upon study projections.
Learning Objectives: To describe how a comprehensive community based needs assessments was conducted and to pressent study results.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Needs Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Montefiore Medial Center
God's Love We Delivery
Gay Mens Health Crisis
Momentum
New York State AIDS Institute
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.