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Urban gardening and nutritional counseling for people with HIV and food insecurity

ProMeSA: Urban Gardening and Peer Nutritional Counseling to Improve HIV Care Outcomes Among People with Food Insecurity in the Dominican Republic

Not applicable Interventional University of Massachusetts, Amherst · NCT06412016

This study is testing whether combining urban gardening with nutritional counseling can help people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic who struggle with food insecurity improve their health and well-being.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment500 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst Academic / other
Locations20 sites (Azua and 19 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06412016 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This intervention combines peer nutritional counseling with urban gardening to support individuals living with HIV in the Dominican Republic who are facing food insecurity. The study employs a cluster randomized controlled trial design to assess the efficacy of this culturally appropriate approach over 18 months. It aims to improve HIV clinical outcomes, such as viral load suppression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, while also addressing food security and stigma related to HIV. The research will analyze mediators of effects and gather detailed process data to inform future scaling of the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who are registered at participating HIV clinics, have been on antiretroviral therapy for at least six months, and experience moderate to severe food insecurity.

Not a fit: Patients who do not meet the eligibility criteria, such as those without detectable viral loads or those not experiencing food insecurity, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve health outcomes for people living with HIV by enhancing their food security and treatment adherence.

How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot studies have shown preliminary efficacy of similar interventions, indicating potential for success in this larger trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. registered at one of the 20 HIV clinics in the study;
2. age 18 or older;
3. having initiated ART at least 6 months ago;
4. detectable viral load in the previous 12 months based on medical records and/or evidence of adherence problems (missed clinic visits, delays in picking up antiretrovirals);
5. moderate or severe household food insecurity
6. physically able to plant and maintain an urban garden; stable housing and space for a garden (subjectively assessed by participants after hearing a description of what is involved)
7. planned residency in the local area for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

Does not meet above criteria

Where this trial is running

Azua and 19 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions HIVFood Insecurity
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.