Cost-effectiveness of screening and treating alcohol use and depression among people living with HIV in Zimbabwe: a mathematical modeling study.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) drive HIV transmission in many sub-Saharan African settings. The impact of screening and treating AUD and MDD on HIV outcomes is unknown. We aimed to identify the cost-effectiveness of AUD and MDD interventions in Zimbabwe, and their potential contribution to reaching Zimbabwe's Ending the HIV Epidemic 2030 goal.

Does Reducing Alcohol Use Among People with HIV Alleviate Psychological Distress and Symptoms of Depression? A Randomized Controlled Trial in Tshwane, South Africa.

Although alcohol use is associated with depression, it is unclear if brief alcohol reduction interventions can ameliorate depression and psychological distress among people with HIV (PWH). We use data from a two-arm randomised controlled trial to examine this question. PWH on antiretroviral treatment (ART) were randomly assigned to receive a brief intervention or treatment as usual (n = 622).

Motivational interviewing and problem-solving therapy intervention for patients on antiretroviral therapy for HIV in Tshwane, South Africa: A randomized controlled trial to assess the impact on alcohol consumption.

Background And Aims: Reduction of alcohol consumption is important for people undergoing treatment for HIV. We tested the efficacy of a brief intervention for reducing the average volume of alcohol consumed among patients on HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design, Setting And Participants: This study used a two-arm multi-centre randomized controlled trial with follow-up to 6 months.

Efficacy of alcohol reduction interventions among people with HIV as evaluated by self-report and a phosphatidylethanol (PEth) outcome: protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Introduction: Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with a range of adverse outcomes among people with HIV (PWH). Testing the efficacy and promoting the availability of effective interventions to address unhealthy alcohol use among PWH is thus a priority. Alcohol use outcomes in intervention studies are often measured by self-report alone, which can lead to spurious results due to information biases (eg, social desirability).

Self-reported alcohol use versus phosphatidylethanol in behavioral trials: A study of people living with HIV in Tshwane, South Africa.

Background: Accurately quantifying alcohol use among persons with HIV (PWH) is important for validly assessing the efficacy of alcohol reduction interventions.

Methods: We used data from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to reduce alcohol use among PWH who were receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tshwane, South Africa. We calculated agreement between self-reported hazardous alcohol use measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; score ≥8) and AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C; score ≥3 for females and ≥4 for males), heavy episodic drinking (HED) in the past 30 days, and heavy drinking in the past 7 days with a gold standard biomarker--phosphatidylethanol (PEth) level (≥50 ng/mL)--among 309 participants.

The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model and Unprotected Sex: Assessing the Model's Utility and Predictability Among Bar Patrons in Tshwane, South Africa.

The Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills (IMB) model has been a useful tool for understanding sexual risk behavior. However, its utility in predicting sexual risk behaviors among bar patrons, for whom the bar setting poses a higher risk of alcohol-related sexual risk behavior, has been underexplored. We assessed (1) the extent to which the IMB predicted number of episodes of unprotected sex in the past six months and (2) whether incorporating sex under the influence of alcohol and alcohol use improved the predictability of the model among bar patrons.

Corrigendum to: Addressing tobacco smoking and drinking to improve TB treatment outcomes, in South Africa: a feasibility study of the ProLife program.

Alcohol and tobacco use may lead to negative treatment outcomes in tuberculosis (TB) patients, and even more so if they are HIV-infected. We developed and tested the feasibility of a complex behavioral intervention (ProLife) delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) to improve treatment outcomes in TB patients who smoke tobacco and/or drink alcohol, at nine clinics in South Africa. The intervention comprised three brief motivational interviewing (MI) sessions augmented with a short message service (SMS) program, targeting as appropriate: tobacco smoking, harmful or hazardous drinking and medication adherence.

Alcohol Use and the Risk of Communicable Diseases.

The body of knowledge on alcohol use and communicable diseases has been growing in recent years. Using a narrative review approach, this paper discusses alcohol's role in the acquisition of and treatment outcomes from four different communicable diseases: these include three conditions included in comparative risk assessments to date-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and lower respiratory infections/pneumonia-as well as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of its recent and rapid ascension as a global health concern. Alcohol-attributable TB, HIV, and pneumonia combined were responsible for approximately 360,000 deaths and 13 million disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) in 2016, with alcohol-attributable TB deaths and DALYs predominating.

Adolescent Health Series - Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A narrative review.

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use by adolescents are major contributors to death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper reviews the extent of adolescents' ATOD use, risk and protective factors, and studies evaluating prevention interventions for adolescents in SSA. It also describes the harms associated with adolescents' ATOD use in SSA, which mainly include interpersonal violence, sexual risk behaviours, and negative academic outcomes.

Alcohol consumption, harms and policy developments in sub-Saharan Africa: The case for stronger national and regional responses.

Issues: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has long been characterised as a region with weak alcohol policies, high proportions of abstainers and heavy episodic drinkers (among drinkers), and as a target for market expansion by global alcohol producers. However, inter-regional analyses of these issues are seldom conducted.

Approach: Focusing mainly on the period 2000-2016, we compare alcohol consumption and harms, alcohol policy developments and alcohol industry activities over time and across the four sub-regions of SSA.

On- and off-licensed premises drinking behaviour among adults in the city of Tshwane, South Africa: An analysis of data from the International Alcohol Control study.

Introduction And Aims: Alcohol use is among the leading risk factors for premature death and morbidity in South Africa. This study sought to identify factors associated with drinking behaviour in on- and off-licensed premises (typical occasion quantity and frequency) among adults in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

Design And Methods: A household survey was conducted in 2014, using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling design.

"Moving Forward with Life": Acceptability of a Brief Alcohol Reduction Intervention for People Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, interventions are needed to address the impact of hazardous drinking on antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV (PLWH). Participant feedback about these interventions can identify ways to enhance their acceptability. We interviewed participants in a randomized controlled trial of a brief motivational interviewing and problem-solving therapy (MI-PST) intervention about their perceptions of this alcohol-reduction intervention.

Characteristics and Predictors of Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) among Young People Aged 16-25: The International Alcohol Control Study (IAC), Tshwane, South Africa.

In South Africa, little is known about alcohol consumption patterns, such as drinks consumed, container size, salience of alcohol price, affordability and availability, and perceptions of alcohol policies as potential predictors of heavy episodic alcohol (HED) use among young people. This paper examines predictors of HED among young people with specific consideration given to these alcohol consumption patterns. This study conducted in the Tshwane Metropole in 2014 employed multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling.

Looking back, moving forward: 50 years of South African Medical Research Council alcohol-related publications.

Alcohol is one of the highest risk factors for death and disability in South Africa (SA). Objective. To explore the trajectory of empirical research on alcohol in SA between 1969 and 2019, with an emphasis on South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) authored publications.

Tobacco use and nicotine dependence among people living with HIV who drink heavily in South Africa: a cross-sectional baseline study.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) who drink alcohol and use tobacco are particularly vulnerable to tobacco-induced diseases due to an already compromised immune system. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use (cigarette and snuff) among PLWH who drink heavily.

Methods: Participants (n = 623) on antiretroviral therapy for HIV who reported heavy drinking using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and AUDIT-C were recruited from six hospitals in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Characteristics and drinking behaviour of patients on antiretroviral therapy who drink and attend HIV clinics in Tshwane, South Africa: Implications for intervention.

Background: Patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who drink alcohol are at risk of poor medication adherence and negative health outcomes.

Objectives: To explore the drinking behaviour of patients on ART and assess the associations between drinking, adherence to ART and viral load, and in particular factors associated with binge drinking (≥6 drinks per occasion) at least monthly.

Methods: We recruited 623 HIV patients from six hospitals in the Tshwane metropole who scored positive on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) but were 'non-dependent' drinkers into a randomised controlled trial.

ImPROving TB outcomes by modifying LIFE-style behaviours through a brief motivational intervention followed by short text messages (ProLife): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: South Africa is among the seven highest tuberculosis (TB) burden countries. Harmful lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking and alcohol, and poor adherence to medication can affect clinical outcomes. Modification of these behaviours is likely to improve TB treatment outcomes and has proven possible using motivational interviewing (MI) techniques or use of short message service (SMS) text messaging.

Addressing tobacco smoking and drinking to improve TB treatment outcomes, in South Africa: a feasibility study of the ProLife program.

Alcohol and tobacco use may lead to negative treatment outcomes in tuberculosis (TB) patients, and even more so if they are HIV-infected. We developed and tested the feasibility of a complex behavioral intervention (ProLife) delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) to improve treatment outcomes in TB patients who smoke tobacco and/or drink alcohol, at nine clinics in South Africa. The intervention comprised three brief motivational interviewing (MI) sessions augmented with a short message service (SMS) program, targeting as appropriate: tobacco smoking, harmful or hazardous drinking and medication adherence.

Alcohol Advertising, Affordability and Availability, and the Effect on Adult Heavy Drinking and Symptoms of Alcohol Problems: International Alcohol Control Study (South Africa).

Alcohol harm is a major contributor to the burden of disease in South Africa. This study aimed to identify the extent of heavy drinking and symptoms of alcohol problems among adult drinkers and associated demographic and other risk factors in the Tshwane Metropole of South Africa. A household survey was conducted using multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling.

The prevalence of religiosity and association between religiosity and alcohol use, other drug use, and risky sexual behaviours among grade 8-10 learners in Western Cape, South Africa.

Background: Alcohol and other drug use (AOD) and risky sexual behaviours remain high among adolescents in South Africa and globally. Religiosity influences, mitigates and provides resilience against engaging in risky behaviours among young people but few South African studies have explored potential associations between religiosity, AOD use and risky sex. We report the prevalence of religiosity and association between religiosity and AOD use and risky sexual behaviours among learners in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Heavy drinking and contextual risk factors among adults in South Africa: findings from the International Alcohol Control study.

Background: There is limited information about the potential individual-level and contextual drivers of heavy drinking in South Africa. This study aimed to identify risk factors for heavy drinking in Tshwane, South Africa.

Methods: A household survey using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling design.