Alcohol use among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at Otjiwarongo ART Clinic and its effects on their adherence to HAART

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alcohol use among PLWHA has long been recognized as a challenge in terms of HIV disease progression. However no local (Namibian) study has been done to look at prevalence of alcohol use among PLWHA on HAART and its effect on the patients' adherence to HAART. A cross sectional survey was conducted at Otjiwarongo ART clinic to look at the proportion of PLWHA who use alcohol and the association between alcohol use and adherence to HAART.The target population was PLWHA on HAART at Otjiwarongo ART Clinic who; are 18 years and older and have been on HAART for a minimum of three months. Systematic sampling was used to select participants. A total sample size of 102 participants was obtained. Of those participants, 61(59.8%) were females and 41(40.2%) were males.Of the 102 participants, 14(13.73%) were in the age range of 18-28, 36(35.3%) in the age range of 30-39, 32(31.4%) in the age range of 40-49 and 20(19.6%) were in the age range of above or equal to 50 years.Of the total participants, 54(52.9%) used alcohol and 48(47%) were non-alcohol users. Of those who used alcohol 33(32.4%) were hazardous alcohol users (Abuse) while 21(20.6%) were non-hazardous alcohol users (Alcohol use).Of the 102 participants, 90(88.2%) were adherent to HAART in the four days prior to contact of the survey. These participants managed to take 95% or more of the total doses of their antiretroviral medicines. A total of 12(11.8%) of the participants were non adherent to HAART in the four days preceding the survey.Of the 33 participants who are hazardous alcohol users, 26(78.8%) were adherent to HAART compared to 7(21.2%) who were non adherent to HAART. The picture changes among those who did not use alcohol. Of the 48 participants who did not use alcohol, 44(91.7%) were adherent to HAART and 4(8.3%) were not adherent. What is interesting to note is the fact that of those who were non-hazardous alcohol users, adherence to HAART remained high. Adherence for this group was 95.2 %( 20 out of 21 participants).This study found that PLWHA on HAART Otjiwarongo hospital use alcohol more than the general population. This goes to show that alcohol abuse among PLWHA is indeed a problem which needs urgent attentionThough the adherence is good among all the other PLWHA on HAART, adherence was particularly low in those PLWHA who were hazardous alcohol users (Alcohol Abusers). Adherence in this group was significantly low. This goes to show than hazardous alcohol use is associated with poor adherence to HAART. This re-emphasizes the need to screen all PLWHA for alcohol abuse before HAART is started so that appropriate support and advice can be provided.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University