1. Alcohol use among people who inject drugs living with HIV in Kenya is associated with needle sharing, more new sex partners, and lower engagement in HIV care.
- Author
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DesLauriers, N., Sambai, B., Mbogo, L., Ludwig-Barron, N., Kingston, H., Chohan, B., Gitau, E., Sinkele, W., Masyuko, S., Herbeck, J., Bukusi, D., Guthrie, B. L., Farquhar, C., and Monroe-Wise, A.
- Subjects
HIV-positive persons ,RISK-taking behavior ,NEEDLE sharing ,HIV infections ,THERAPEUTICS ,ALCOHOLISM ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,MULTIVARIATE analysis ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,INFECTIOUS disease transmission ,RESEARCH funding ,SEXUAL partners ,ODDS ratio ,DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
We assessed the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among 870 people who inject drugs living with HIV in Kenya, with attention toward (1) sexual and injecting risk behaviors for HIV transmission and (2) HIV care engagement. We defined heavy alcohol use as > 14 drinks/week for men and > 7 drinks/week for women, moderate alcohol use as any lesser but non-zero amount, and any alcohol use as either moderate or heavy use. Approximately 39% of participants reported any alcohol use and 15% heavy use. In multivariate analysis, any alcohol use compared to no use was associated with needle sharing, > 3 new sex partners in the past 3 months, being unaware of HIV status, never enrolling in HIV care, and not being on ART (all p < 0.05). Heavy alcohol use as compared to no use was associated with needle sharing (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI 1.43, 5.13), injection equipment sharing (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.00, 3.16), > 3 new sex partners in the past 3 months (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.12, 3.49), and being unaware of HIV status (aOR = 2.77; 95% CI 1.46, 5.19). There was no association between any measure of alcohol use and unsuppressed viral load. Alcohol use among people who inject drugs living with HIV may carry elevated risk of HIV transmission mediated by sexual and injecting practices and is associated with lower engagement in multiple stages of the HIV care cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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