Epidemiology of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Northwest Tanzania: implications for ART adherence and case management

ABSTRACT

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are associated with poor health outcomes. This cross-sectional study examined current alcohol use and AUD among 300 PLHIV on ART at four HIV care centres in Northwest Tanzania. Participants' data were collected using questionnaires. Alcohol use was assessed using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Logistic regression was used to examine associations between each outcome (current drinking and AUD) and sociodemographic and clinical factors. Association between alcohol use and ART adherence was also studied. The median age of participants was 43 years (IQR 19-71) and 41.3% were male. Twenty-two (7.3%) participants failed to take ART at least once in the last seven days. The prevalence of current drinking was 29.3% (95% CI 24.2-34.8%) and that of AUD was 11.3% (8.2%−15.5%). Males had higher odds of alcohol use (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.79-5.14) and AUD (3.89, 1.76-8.60). Alcohol use was associated with ART non-adherence (OR = 2.78, 1.10–7.04). There was a trend towards an association between AUD and non-adherence (OR = 2.91, 0.92–9.21). Alcohol use and AUD were common among PLHIV and showed evidence of associations with ART non-adherence. Screening patients for alcohol use and AUD in HIV clinics may increase ART adherence.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• antiretroviral therapy (ART)
• alcohol use disorders
• Good health and well-being
• partnerships for the goals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the UK Medical Research Council awarded to SK though the Public Health Intervention Development (PHIND) Scheme (Grant Ref: MR/R00255X/1). RH and HAW are part funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) under the MRC/DFID Concordat agreement and is also part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union (Grant Ref: MR/R010161/1). CDHP and SN were part-funded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) for their work on the project through their salaries as employees of the SAMRC.