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The impact of food transfers for people living with HIV/AIDS: Evidence from Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Tirivayi, J.N.

    (UNU-MERIT)

  • Groot, W.N.J.

    (CAPHRI, Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University)

Abstract

We estimate the impact of food transfers on diet and consumption expenditures in food insecure households with HIV positive members on antiretroviral therapy. We use primary data collected from 199 beneficiary and 179 non-beneficiary households in Lusaka, Zambia. Propensity score matching estimates show that the food transfers significantly increase dietary diversity and food consumption expenditures. Our results also show that the food transfers increased the proportion of households with optimal dietary diversity and consuming at least five food groups. The results are robust to variation in the propensity score model and matching technique. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that our results are largely robust to substantial amounts of unobserved selection bias. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of the growing number of HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support programmes providing food assistance in resource poor settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Tirivayi, J.N. & Groot, W.N.J., 2014. "The impact of food transfers for people living with HIV/AIDS: Evidence from Zambia," MERIT Working Papers 2014-065, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2014065
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    File URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2014/wp2014-065.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucas, Adrienne M. & Chidothe, Margaret & Wilson, Nicholas L., 2019. "Effects of adult health interventions at scale on children’s schooling: Evidence from antiretroviral therapy in Zambia," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 107-120.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Food assistance; Diet; Consumption expenditures; Household expenditures; HIV; AIDS; Zambia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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