High Levels of Persistent Problem Drinking in Women at High Risk for HIV in Kampala, Uganda: A Prospective Cohort Study

Helen A. Weiss, Judith Vandepitte, Justine N. Bukenya, Yunia Mayanja, Susan Nakubulwa, Anatoli Kamali, Janet Seeley and Heiner Grosskurth
Additional contact information
Helen A. Weiss: MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Judith Vandepitte: Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda
Justine N. Bukenya: Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Colleges of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Yunia Mayanja: Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda
Susan Nakubulwa: Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda
Anatoli Kamali: Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda
Janet Seeley: Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda
Heiner Grosskurth: MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of problem drinking in a cohort of women at high-risk of HIV in Kampala, Uganda. Overall, 1027 women at high risk of HIV infection were followed from 2008 to 2013. The CAGE and AUDIT questionnaires were used to identify problem drinkers in the cohort. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to ascertain socio-demographic and behavioural factors. Blood and genital samples were tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. At enrollment, most women (71%) reported using alcohol at least weekly and about a third reported having drunk alcohol daily for at least 2 weeks during the past 3 months. Over half (56%) were problem drinkers by CAGE at enrollment, and this was independently associated with vulnerability (being divorced/separated/widowed, less education, recruiting clients at bars/clubs, and forced sex at first sexual experience). Factors associated with problem drinking during follow-up included younger age, meeting clients in bars/clubs, number of clients, using drugs and HSV-2 infection. HIV prevalence was associated with drinking at enrollment, but not during follow-up. This longitudinal study found high levels of persistent problem drinking. Further research is needed to adapt and implement alcohol-focused interventions in vulnerable key populations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: alcohol; sex work; Uganda; HIV; problem drinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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