Information Delivery, Nutrition and HIV Treatment: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment on Women Living with HIV in Uganda
Nutrition is a crucial component for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. This paper investigates whether the medium of delivery of nutrition information determines the extent of behavioral change among vulnerable groups. We present the results of a randomized controlled trial designed to test the impact of two interventions that aim to inform women living with HIV about how to fulfill their nutritional needs in a sustainable way. The first intervention arm is a standard nutritional information campaign involving the distribution of posters and flyers at HIV clinics in Uganda. The second intervention arm consists of the basic information campaign and a cookery demonstration on how to produce locally sourced home-made nutritious food. We find that the provision of basic information improves the fat and protein intake and health of women but has limited impact on other welfare outcomes. In contrast, participation in the cookery campaigns has statistically significant effects on the intake of micronutrients. It also positively affects female labor supply, incomes and children’s school attendance. Our results shed light on the extent to which the means through which nutrition information is communicated matters for impact.

Written with Lubega et al.
Date: 23 January 2019, 12:30 (Wednesday, 2nd week, Hilary 2019)
Venue: Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Carol Newman (Trinity College Dublin)
Organising department: Department of Economics
Organisers: Margaryta Klymak (Department of International Development), Rossa O'Keeffe-O'Donovan (Nuffield College), Michael Koelle (Pembroke College)
Organiser contact email address: suzanne.george@economics.ox.ac.uk
Part of: CSAE Lunchtime Seminars
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editors: Anne Pouliquen, Suzanne George, Melis Clark