The intersection of food insecurity and health for rural Malawian women at the end of life.
BACKGROUND
One of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi's palliative care system is under-resourced, and one-third of the population is food-insecure.


AIMS
This study describes the lived experience of female palliative care patients, and their caregivers, and aimed to: (1) analyse their physical, spiritual and mental health needs; and (2) analyse best palliative nursing practice for patients at the end of life. An unexpected finding was the impact of food insecurity on the women and their caregivers.


METHODS
We conducted interviews with 26 women who at the end of life and 14 of their caregivers. All were participating in a community palliative care programme offered by an AIDS support organisation in Kasungu, Malawi. We used deductive qualitative analysis to organise identified themes using the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilisation and stability.


FINDINGS
All study participants experienced challenges with food security.


CONCLUSIONS
We offer policy recommendations for palliative care nurses, and other allied health professionals.
['Dressel|Anne|A|', 'Mkandawire|Elizabeth|E|', 'Gondwe|Kaboni Whitney|KW|', 'Mkandawire-Valhmu|Lucy|L|', 'Nordin|Stacia|S|', 'Vilakazi|Nokuthula|N|', 'Scheer|Victoria|V|', 'Kako|Peninnah|P|', 'Ngui|Emmanuel|E|', 'Neiman|Tammy|T|', 'Ruiz|Ashley|A|', 'Luebke|Jeneile|J|', 'Minjale|Peter|P|', 'Merriman|Anne|A|', 'Finch|Lucy Kishindo|LK|', 'Egede|Leonard|L|']
D017028:Caregivers D003643:Death D005260:Female D000084884:Food Insecurity D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing D006801:Humans D008295:Malawi D020380:Needs Assessment D010166:Palliative Care D036301:Qualitative Research D012424:Rural Population D013727:Terminal Care
Food insecurity Malawi Palliative nursing End-of-life care Nutrition