Researchers in the Dominican Republic tested whether helping people with HIV grow their own food and learn about nutrition could reduce their alcohol use. They worked with 109 people living with HIV—some got gardening training and nutrition counseling for a year, while others didn’t. The results suggest that the gardening and nutrition program may have helped people drink less alcohol. This is important because people with HIV who don’t have enough food often drink more, which can make their health worse. While the results are promising, scientists say they need bigger studies to be sure this approach really works.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether teaching people with HIV to grow gardens and learn about healthy eating could help them drink less alcohol
- Who participated: 109 people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic who didn’t have enough food. About half (46 people) got the garden and nutrition program, and the other half (63 people) didn’t receive the program but were tracked for comparison.
- Key finding: After 6 months, people in the gardening program showed a small decrease in alcohol use compared to the control group. The number of people drinking at risky levels dropped by about 11 percentage points in the intervention group, though this difference wasn’t quite statistically significant (p = 0.146).
- What it means for you: If you or someone you know has HIV and struggles with food insecurity and alcohol use, growing food and learning about nutrition may help reduce drinking. However, this is still an early-stage finding, and more research is needed before doctors can strongly recommend this as a treatment.
The Research Details
This was a pilot study—a small test run—where researchers compared two groups of people with HIV in the Dominican Republic. One group (the intervention group) participated in a 12-month program that included learning how to build and maintain a garden, getting one-on-one nutrition advice from trained peers (people who also have HIV), and attending cooking classes focused on garden vegetables. The other group (the control group) continued with their regular care without the special program. Researchers measured alcohol use at the start, at 6 months, and at 12 months using a standard questionnaire called the AUDIT-C, which asks about drinking habits.
The researchers used a special statistical method called “differences-in-differences” to compare how much each group’s drinking changed over time. This method helps account for differences between the groups that existed before the program started. They also adjusted their analysis to account for the fact that participants came from two different clinics.
This research approach is important because it tries to understand whether fixing one problem (not having enough food) might help with another problem (drinking too much). Many studies show these two problems go together in people with HIV, but few have tested whether solving the food problem actually reduces drinking. By comparing a group that got help with a group that didn’t, researchers can see if the program itself made a difference.
This was a pilot study with a relatively small number of participants (109 people), which means the results should be viewed as preliminary. The study was well-designed with a control group for comparison, which is good. However, the differences found weren’t quite statistically significant at the 6-month mark, meaning they could have happened by chance. The researchers were honest about these limitations and called for larger studies to confirm their findings. The study took place in one specific location (Dominican Republic), so results might be different in other places.
What the Results Show
At the beginning of the study, people in both groups reported low levels of alcohol use on average (a score of 2.35 on the AUDIT scale). However, about one-third of all participants (34%) were drinking at levels considered risky or hazardous for their health.
After 6 months, the intervention group showed a slightly larger decrease in alcohol use compared to the control group—about 0.6 points lower on the AUDIT scale. The number of people drinking at risky levels also dropped more in the intervention group (down by 11 percentage points) compared to the control group. However, these differences were small and could have happened by chance (the p-value was 0.155 and 0.146, respectively, meaning there’s about a 15-16% chance these results occurred randomly).
At 12 months, both groups showed lower alcohol use than at the start, suggesting that simply being in the study and getting regular check-ups may have helped both groups reduce drinking. The intervention group’s advantage over the control group was less clear at this later time point.
The study didn’t report detailed information about other outcomes like changes in food security itself, HIV medication adherence, or health markers. The researchers noted that both groups improved over time, which suggests that regular contact with healthcare providers and being part of a study may have positive effects beyond just the specific intervention being tested.
Previous research has shown that food insecurity and alcohol use are connected in people with HIV—those without enough food tend to drink more. This study is one of the first to test whether fixing food insecurity through gardening and nutrition education can actually reduce drinking. The findings align with the theory that addressing basic needs like food might help with substance use, but the effects were smaller than some researchers might have expected.
The study was small (only 109 people), which limits how much we can trust the results. The differences found weren’t statistically significant, meaning they could have occurred by chance. The study only lasted 12 months, so we don’t know if benefits continue longer. The study took place in the Dominican Republic, so results might be different in other countries or cultures. The researchers couldn’t randomly assign people to groups (which would be the gold standard), so there might be differences between groups we don’t know about. Finally, people self-reported their drinking, which might not be completely accurate.
The Bottom Line
Based on this early research, gardening and peer nutrition counseling may help reduce alcohol use in people with HIV who don’t have enough food. However, confidence in this recommendation is low to moderate because the study was small and results weren’t statistically significant. This approach seems safe and has other benefits (better nutrition, community connection), so it may be worth trying while waiting for larger studies. Anyone with HIV and alcohol use concerns should talk with their doctor about all available options.
This research is most relevant to people living with HIV who experience food insecurity and drink alcohol. It may also interest healthcare providers, public health officials, and organizations working with HIV-positive communities. People with HIV who have stable food access or don’t drink may see less benefit. This research is less relevant to people without HIV.
In this study, changes in drinking patterns began to appear around 6 months into the program. However, both groups improved by 12 months, making it hard to say exactly how long benefits take. Realistically, if someone started a similar program, they might expect to see small changes within 3-6 months, but larger changes might take longer or might not happen at all.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly alcohol consumption (number of drinks per week and number of heavy drinking days) alongside garden activity (hours spent gardening or preparing garden food) and nutrition counseling attendance. This helps users see if their drinking patterns change as they engage more with the program.
- Users could set a goal to spend at least 3 hours per week on gardening activities and attend nutrition counseling sessions, while tracking their alcohol use weekly. The app could send reminders for gardening tasks and counseling appointments, and show progress graphs comparing drinking levels over time.
- Use monthly check-ins to review trends in both gardening engagement and alcohol use. Set up alerts if drinking increases, and celebrate milestones like reduced drinking days or increased gardening participation. Track food security improvements (meals per day, food variety) alongside drinking patterns to show the connection between the two.
This research is preliminary and based on a small pilot study. The findings suggest a possible benefit but are not yet conclusive. If you have HIV and struggle with alcohol use or food insecurity, please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or lifestyle. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always work with your doctor or a substance use specialist when addressing alcohol consumption, as sudden changes in drinking can affect HIV medications and overall health.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.