Grant: Operating Grant

HIV infection has become a chronic manageable condition in Canada where combined antiretroviral treatments are available. This change has led to an increase in the occurrence of various competing morbidities among HIV-infected populations. This is especially true for hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected HIV-positive patients. HIV positive persons who lack access to food appear more susceptible to having difficulties in managing and treating HIV infection. However few studies have studied the relationship of lack of access to food and HIV-HCV co-infection. The research has two objectives. Objective 1 aims at assessing the level of food insecurity (lack of access to food) among co-infected persons and its effect on HIV and HCV behavours and health. Objective 2 aims at exploring, from the perspective of co-infected persons who are food-insecure, issues of resilience and vulnerability, and to describe their needs for food security and their needs for nutrition and health care. To attain these objectives, the research will collect data every six months on food security as part of an ongoing multisite cohort study conducted in in Canada, and will implement a case study that will involve individual interviews. The longitudinal design of this research and its mixed methods approach will provide for new insights on the relationships between food insecurity and HIV-HCV co-infection related behaviours, treatment and health.