Changing trends and the impact of alcohol on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa: Review

Abstract

The association between increased HIV infection and alcohol use has been extensively studied and is established. South Africa is among one of the sub-Saharan African countries with the highest prevalence and number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Although recent evidence suggests that the epidemic has stabilised, infection rates remain unacceptably high. Alcohol use is on the increase, particularly in the groups most susceptible to HIV infection, namely women and young adults, and informs poor choices with respect to safer sexual practices. This paper reviews the association between alcohol and HIV. More specifically, however, it aims to explore the potential socio-politico-biological and cultural explanations as to the factors that intersect to drive these two epidemic diseases: alcoholism and HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Understanding some of the underlying factors will provide a framework to implement public health measures to curb HIV.

L'association entre l'augmentation du VIH et la consommation d'alcool fait l'objet d'une étude. L'Afrique du Sud reste l'un des pays Sub-Saharien les plus touché par un taux de prévalence élevé et par le nombre de personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA dans le monde. Bien que les dernières objectives fussent de stabiliser l'épidémie, néanmoins le taux d'infection reste inacceptable. L'utilisation de l'alcool, particulièrement chez les femmes et les jeunes, est susceptible d'augmenter l'infection du VIH, et le peu d'information qu'ils ont sur le respect des pratiques sexuels sûr. L'article examine le lien entre l'association de l'alcool et le VIH, plus spécifiquement, cependant elle vise à explorer des explications potentielles socio-politico-culturelles et biologiques sur les facteurs de ces maladies épidémiques alcoolisme et le VIH/SIDA en Afrique du Sud. Il faut comprendre que les facteurs sous-jacents fourniront un cadre pour mettre en oeuvre des mesures de santé publique pour lutter contre le VIH.

Keywords:

• HIV
• AIDS
• South Africa
• alcohol
• politics of South Africa

Mots clés:

• VIH
• SIDA
• Afrique du Sud
• alcool
• la politique en Afrique du Sud

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mashiko Setshedi

Mashiko Setshedi, MD, MPH, is currently a Research Fellow at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, RI. She is on a 3-year research fellowship and is studying the epidemiological and molecular aspects of alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis B virus-related liver cancer. She will return to Cape Town on completion of her fellowship to work as a researcher and clinician.

Suzanne M de la Monte

Suzanne M de la Monte, MD, MPH, is Professor of Pathology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the Rhode Island Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI. She is also a member or trainer/educator in the Pathobiology, Neuroscience, and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Programs at Brown University.