National Food and Nutrition Commission

Reports

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A Study to Campare the Cash and Food Transfer Schemes on HIV Patients Initiating ARVshot!

The ART study had two treatment arms (cash and food) and aimed at comparing outcomes for clients

initiating an ART regime. These interventions (i.e. cash and food) were designed to improve the

nutritional status of ART Study clients and their families with the intention of increasing adherence to

and effectiveness of ART. The clients were supported unconditionally with monthly food or cash

transfers using electronic vouchers for a period of 8 months in accordance with the WFP Zambia

protocol. WFP standard food basket utilized under this study consisted of a 25kg maize meal, 4kg

beans, 2kg sugar, 2.5litres vegetable oil and 1kg salt. Clients on cash transfer received the amount

which was equivalent to the value of the cost of the food bas

ket.

The overall study aim was to fully understand which transfer mechanism (cash or food) ensures

adequate nutrition improvement for those initiating ART treatment,and increases adherence to Anti-

Retroviral Treatment (ART) in a more effective way. This study specifically the study was intended to

examine whether providing cash or food transfers to patients initiating ART improves their

nutritional status (BMI); assess whether providing cash or food transfers to patients initiating ART

improves Household Diet Diversity Score (HDDS); assess which transfer type (cash or food)

improves adherence to ART; examine whether CD4 count is improved by providing a patient

initiating ART with a food or cash transfer; assess whether the household asset base is increased by

providing cash or food transfers to patients initiating ART; examine whether household income is

improved when patients initiating ART are provided with cash or food transfers;and assess which of

the two transfers (cash or food) is more cost effective.

The study was conducted in Eastern Province of Zambia, in Katete District, at St. Francis Mission

Hospital. This was an intervention study, focusing on HIV positive individuals initiated on ART. The

enrolled adults (both male and female aged 18 to 55 years) were randomly allocated to two

treatment arms (cash or food) using computer-generated random numbers.

A total of 351 clients were enrolled in the study of 175 were on cash and 176 on food transfers at

baseline. However, during data analysis, 13 (3.7%, 8 and 5 on cash and food respectively) were

disqualified on account of them being above the required age of 55 years in this study and thus were

not included in the analysis. Therefore, at baseline only 338 study clients (167 on cash and 171 on

food) were included in the analysis. At post assessment,a total of 293 clients from 338 completed

the whole period of 8 months of intervention indicating an attrition rate of 45 (13.3%) of which 147

and 146 were on cash and food transfers respectively.This attrition is attributable to deaths of 12

clients (3.6%) while 33 (9.8%) clients voluntarily dropped out.The study did not formally investigate

the reasons why clients voluntarily dropped out of the study. However, through observations and

interactions with their close associates by the project team, it was noted that relocation, stigma and

Recipe Cornerhot!

Food composition tables in Zambia and applications for policyhot!

Policy makers in Zambia have previously faced the dilemma of encouraging investments in ensuring food security through agricultural production, food processing, support for import incentives and through promotion of local foods. It is clear though that the government wants to ensure attainment of food security for the country. But the estimation of national food requirements for food security should be as accurate as possible and based on the daily per capita recommended nutrient requirements. The food should also be safe for human consumption.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) Impact Reporthot!

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are a common cause of ill health all over the world. About 2.2 billion people from 130 Countries live in areas of iodine deficiency and need some form of iodine supplementation (WHO, 1999; Delange, 2001). World wide, at least 740 million people have some other demonstrable consequence of iodine deficiency. Most of those at risk, and indeed most of the affected populations, are in developing countries, including Africa.