RESEARCH PAPER
Psychological well-being and gender difference in alcohol and substance use among people living with HIV/AIDS
1
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Nigeria
2
Department of Psychiatry, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Submission date: 2020-04-19
Final revision date: 2020-10-07
Acceptance date: 2020-10-08
Publication date: 2021-06-30
HIV & AIDS Review 2021;20(2):114-120
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Amidst unfavorable effects of alcohol and other substances on the course and outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, this study aimed at identifying patterns of alcohol and substance usage and their association with gender and presence of psychological distress among people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHA).
Material and methods:
Using a cross-sectional survey, questionnaires with socio-demographic variables, Kessler psychological distress (K-10), and the condensed alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) were administered to PLWHA attending HIV clinic at the State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Lifetime and current substance use as well as levels of risky use of alcohol and other substances were determined, and their relationship with gender and psychological distress were verified using bivariate statistics.
Results:
Among 297 participants, the majority were females (72.0%), with mean age of 37.49 years (SD = 10.02). Lifetime and current prevalence were alcohol 62.6% and 37.0%; cannabis 6.1% and 2.7%; nicotine 14.8% and 6.1%; and sedatives 43.1% and 15.4%, respectively. Males were more likely to drink alcohol, use cannabis, and smoke cigarettes than their female counterparts (p < 0.001). Those who were current sedatives users were more likely to be experiencing psychological distress (p = 0.023).
Conclusions:
Despite the negative effect of alcohol on the course and outcomes of HIV infection, a higher proportion of the participants had a history of lifetime and current alcohol and other substance use, with the majority of current substance users being a moderate- to high-risk users. Interventions aimed at reducing excessive substance use are needed to optimize treatment outcomes.
Amidst unfavorable effects of alcohol and other substances on the course and outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, this study aimed at identifying patterns of alcohol and substance usage and their association with gender and presence of psychological distress among people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHA).
Material and methods:
Using a cross-sectional survey, questionnaires with socio-demographic variables, Kessler psychological distress (K-10), and the condensed alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) were administered to PLWHA attending HIV clinic at the State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Lifetime and current substance use as well as levels of risky use of alcohol and other substances were determined, and their relationship with gender and psychological distress were verified using bivariate statistics.
Results:
Among 297 participants, the majority were females (72.0%), with mean age of 37.49 years (SD = 10.02). Lifetime and current prevalence were alcohol 62.6% and 37.0%; cannabis 6.1% and 2.7%; nicotine 14.8% and 6.1%; and sedatives 43.1% and 15.4%, respectively. Males were more likely to drink alcohol, use cannabis, and smoke cigarettes than their female counterparts (p < 0.001). Those who were current sedatives users were more likely to be experiencing psychological distress (p = 0.023).
Conclusions:
Despite the negative effect of alcohol on the course and outcomes of HIV infection, a higher proportion of the participants had a history of lifetime and current alcohol and other substance use, with the majority of current substance users being a moderate- to high-risk users. Interventions aimed at reducing excessive substance use are needed to optimize treatment outcomes.
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