Studies consistently show that food insecurity increases vulnerability to HIV and worsens health outcomes for people living with HIV. While federal and state programs in the U.S., such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provide food assistance to low-income people, income guidelines and other restrictions can keep such programs out of reach for people impacted by HIV.
In a recent study, Aaron Richterman, M.D., M.P.H., an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues explored the relationship between access to SNAP and HIV health outcomes. The study found that people with food insecurity make pressured choices-and for people living with HIV, Richterman says, that translates to prioritizing their short-term food needs over their long-term health. Another key finding: Increased access to SNAP was associated with decreases in HIV diagnoses.
Richterman presented the study in October at the IDWeek 2020 medical science conference. I spoke with him about the findings and broader takeaways, given that Richterman’s research generally focuses on the relationship between poverty, food insecurity, and individual and community health outcomes for infectious diseases, with particular attention to people living with HIV, tuberculosis, and cholera.
This transcript has been edited for clarity and length.