1. Bar Attendance and Alcohol Use Before and After COVID-19 Related Restrictions Among HIV-infected Adults in South-Western Uganda
- Author
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Asiimwe, Caroline, Fatch, Robin, Cheng, Debbie M, Emenyonu, Nneka I, Ngabirano, Christine, Muyindike, Winnie R, and Hahn, Judith A
- Subjects
Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Alcoholism ,Alcohol Use and Health ,Substance Misuse ,Infectious Diseases ,HIV/AIDS ,Infection ,Good Health and Well Being ,Adult ,Humans ,Alcoholism ,Alcohol Drinking ,Uganda ,HIV Infections ,COVID-19 ,Unhealthy alcohol use ,COVID-19 restrictions ,bar attendance ,phosphatidylethanol ,PLWH ,Public Health and Health Services ,Social Work ,Public health - Abstract
Alcohol use is especially problematic for people living with HIV (PLWH) and was likely to be impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its restrictions. In a study of PLWH with latent tuberculosis infection, we measured unhealthy alcohol use with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), phosphatidylethanol (PEth) and bar attendance. We analyzed data collected before and after COVID-19 restrictions, and used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) logistic regression models to evaluate changes in unhealthy alcohol use. While bar attendance declined from 57.0% before to 38.3% after the restrictions started, multivariable analysis controlling for bar use showed a significant increase in unhealthy alcohol use; the adjusted odds ratio for unhealthy drinking before versus after the restrictions started was 1.37 (95% CI: 0.89-2.12) which increased to 1.64 (95% CI: 1.08-2.50) when bar attendance was added to the model. Decline in bar attendance did not decrease unhealthy alcohol use.
- Published
- 2023