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. 2016 Dec;13(1):162-9.
doi: 10.1080/17290376.2016.1230072.

A livelihood intervention to improve economic and psychosocial well-being in rural Uganda: Longitudinal pilot study

Bernard Kakuhikire  1 , Diego Suquillo  2 , Elly Atuhumuza  3 , Rumbidzai Mushavi  4 , Jessica M Perkins  5 , Atheendar S Venkataramani  6 , Sheri D Weiser  7 , David R Bangsberg  8 , Alexander C Tsai  9
Affiliations

A livelihood intervention to improve economic and psychosocial well-being in rural Uganda: Longitudinal pilot study

Bernard Kakuhikire et al. SAHARA J. 2016 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

HIV and poverty are inextricably intertwined in sub-Saharan Africa. Economic and livelihood intervention strategies have been suggested to help mitigate the adverse economic effects of HIV, but few intervention studies have focused specifically on HIV-positive persons. We conducted three pilot studies to assess a livelihood intervention consisting of an initial orientation and loan package of chickens and associated implements to create poultry microenterprises. We enrolled 15 HIV-positive and 22 HIV-negative participants and followed them for up to 18 months. Over the course of follow-up, participants achieved high chicken survival and loan repayment rates. Median monthly income increased, and severe food insecurity declined, although these changes were not statistically significant (P-values ranged from 0.11 to 0.68). In-depth interviews with a purposive sample of three HIV-positive participants identified a constellation of economic and psychosocial benefits, including improved social integration and reduced stigma.

VIH et pauvreté sont inextricablement liés en Afrique subsaharienne. Des stratégies d'interventions économiques et sur les moyens de subsistance ont été proposées pour contribuer à atténuer les effets économiques néfastes du VIH. Cependant, peu d’études concernant les interventions se sont concentrées spécifiquement sur les personnes séropositives. Nous avons mené trois études pilotes afin d'évaluer d'une intervention sur ces moyens de subsistance initialement constituée d'une trousse d’orientation et d’un programme de prêt de poulets et de matériel associé pour créer des micro-entreprises avicoles. Nous avons recruté 15 personnes atteintes du VIH et 22 autres non contaminées et les avons suivies pendant 18 mois, ou plus. Tout au long du processus, des taux élevés de survie des poulets et de remboursement des prêts ont été obtenus par les participants. Le revenu mensuel médian a augmenté, et la grave insécurité alimentaire s’est estompée, bien que ces changements n’étaient statistiquement pas significatifs (les valeurs-p ont varié de 0.11 à 0.68). Des entretiens approfondis, avec un échantillon raisonné de trois participants séropositifs, ont identifié une multitude d'avantages économiques et psychosociaux, y compris une meilleure intégration sociale et une réduction de la stigmatisation.

Keywords: HIV; Ouganda; Uganda; VIH; la pauvreté; poverty; social stigma; stigmatisation sociale.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow diagram of participants assessed for eligibility and enrolled into the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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