CONTENTS Chapter 1: Substance use and HIV/AIDS in Africa by Isidore S. Obot, Akan J. Ibanga & Andrew Zamani Chapter 2: ls there a causal relationship between alcohol and HIV? Implications for policy, practice and future research by Charles A. H. Parry, Jurgen Rehm & Neo K. Morojeie Chapter 3: Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of alcohol use disorders among HIV
The 2010 global report on the AIDS epidemic (UNAIDS, 2010) paints a positive picture of the current situation globally and in Africa. Though levels of infections are still high, the epidemic showed signs of stabilization or decline since the 1990s, including in sub—Saharan Africa where the epidemic has been at the centre of public health concerns for more than thirty
Sub—Saharan Africa (SSA) remains the region most heavily affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2008 it accounted for 67% of HIV infections worldwide, accounting for 70% of new infections and 70% of AIDS—related deaths (UNAIDS and WHO, 2009). South Africa is one country in SSA that has been substantially affected, with an adult (15-49 years) HIV prevalence rate of 18.1%
The rate of alcohol consumption is high among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. People who abuse alcohol are more likely than the general population to contract HIV (Brown & Wechsberg, 2010; Kalichman, Simbayi, Kaufman, et al., 2007; Petry, 1999). Similarly, HIV infected individuals are more likely to abuse alcohol and other substances at some time during their lives (Lefvre, Brian, Maureen
Studies have shown over time that people with alcohol use disorders are more likely to contract HIV than those without (Petry, 2005). Similarly, people with HIV are more likely to abuse alcohol at some time during their lives (Krupitsky, Horton Williams, Lioznov & Kuznetsova, 2005). The reason proffered for this is that alcohol consumption has the potential to strengthen a
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Weiss, 1993; Cecil, 1998). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors (Holmes, Losina, Walensky, Yazdanpanah, Freedberg, 2003). HIV is transmitted through direct contact of
Introduction HIV/AIDS was recognized as a global crisis by mid 1980s (Liskin, Blackbourn & Maier, 1986). By 1986, there were an estimated 100, 000 AIDS cases worldwide, and about 10 million cases of HlV infection (WHO, cited in Kiragu, 2001). Whereas projections at the time showed that the number of AIDS-related deaths would reach 1.7 million by 2006, 3 million
Alcohol use and its influence on high risk sexual behavior has been explored by researchers (Kaiser family foundation, 2002; O’Hare, 2005; Thompson et al., 2005; Abbey et al., 2006; Amoateng, Sabiti & Narayanan, 2007; Olisah, et al., 2009). However, most of these studies were conducted in western societies especially Europe and America. There is paucity of studies from sub-Saharan African
Across the world. between 35 – 45 million people are living with HIV and AIDS ( United Nations Agency for International Development, UNAID report, 2005). Of this number, about 25.5 million live in the African continent. So far, more than 13million of them have died of this disease. South Africa is the region with highest (67%) HIV infection (Parry, 2010).
In the last decade, the term “at-risk” has made frequent appearances in educational, psychological, medical, social work and economics literature. Its origin is obscure and its use in various contexts indicates a lack of consensus regarding its meaning (Adegoke, 2003). Psychologists, social workers and counsellors use the term to denote a population of persons suffering emotional and adjustment problems. However,