Characteristics and Barriers Associated with Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participants by Persons Living with HIV

Abstract

ObjectiveSNAP serves 50 million Americans. For HIV‐infected people in poverty, SNAP participation provides nutritional support for the management of HIV disease. The objective of this study was to characterize barriers for participation in SNAP in this population.MethodsAfter consenting 175 participants, questionnaires on sociodemographics and lifestyle were collected. SPSS was used for analyses.ResultsParticipants were 66% male, 74% African‐American and 70% received SNAP. Antiretroviral use (OR=15.2, 95%CI:4.3–52.7,p<0.001), income<$1000/month (OR=5.28,95%CI:1.6–17.0,p=0.006) and US‐born (OR=16.50,95%CI:3.6–75.5, p<0.001) were associated with SNAP participation; 27% of nonparticipants cited denial of application as the main reason for not participating in SNAP. Recent incarceration (17.4%) and being unaware of eligibility or living or living in a shelter (15.4%) were barriers to participation.ConclusionSNAP participation is high in this HIV‐infected cohort; however, recent incarceration and living in a shelter are barriers that are distinct to this population. Outreach programs targeting low income HIV‐infected persons should consider these barriers and develop strategies to overcome them.