The goal of this trial is to evaluate whether cassava root and sesame seed granules combined with nutrition education can improve the nutritional status of HIV-seropositive adults. People living with HIV face food insecurity, and HIV also increases nutrient requirements and reduces nutrient intake, leading to weight loss, underweight, and impaired immune function, which worsens the situation, leading to increased deaths. The main question was:
Does improving food and nutrient security improve the livelihoods and health outcomes among people living with HIV Researchers compared cassava root and sesame (simsim) seed granules combined with nutrition education to nutrition education alone to see if it works to improve the nutritional status of HIV-positive underweight adults.
* Participants received 230g of cassava root-simsim seed granules daily, and one session of structured individual nutrition education monthly during every visit to the hospital, totaling to 5 sessions during the 16-week study period
* Participants were offered structured individual nutrition education monthly, totaling to 5 sessions during the study period
* Participants visited the hospital monthly for resupply and nutrition education
* They brought back any unused granules during hospital visits.