Food and nutrition security coping stratagies adopted by people living with hiv and aids and their families: A case study of sugar cane and tobacco farmers in Migori county – Kenya

Whereas Food and Nutrition security play a crucial role in the management of HIV and AIDS, the scourge is a significant threat to good nutrition and food security. It increases vulnerability and depletes the capacity of a society to cope yet no proper documentation has been done in Migori County. This paper examines food and nutrition coping strategies adopted by sugarcane and tobacco farmers living with HIV and AIDS and their families in the County. Design of the study was a cross sectional descriptive and analytical survey. A two stage sampling technique was used to identify study area and selection of respondents (341) for exit interview, Focused Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII). Data collected included: demographics, food and nutrition, stigma and discrimination, psychosocial care and support and economic coping strategies. Food and nutrition coping mechanisms included: diversification (30.5%), adopting low labour intensive technologies (20.4%), substitution with subsistence crops (21.5%) and reduction of land acreage (23.4%).The paper concludes that farmers are coping with the impacts of the epidemic and are able to access nutritious foods though not always in adequate quality and quantity and that the strategies established are not only multi-dimensional but also dynamic and interdependent. Consequently, development and implementation of county food security strategy policy that facilitate access to nutritious food is recommended.