• Matiwos Soboka, Markos Tesfaye, Garumma Tolu Feyissa, and Charlotte Hanlon.
• Department of Psychiatry, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. matiwos2004@yahoo.com.
• BMC Res Notes. 2014 Nov 24; 7: 828.

BackgroundAlcohol use disorders (AUDs) in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in high-income countries have been associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral medications and worse HIV-related outcomes. Little is known about AUDs among people attending HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsAcross-sectional study was carried out among PLHIV who attended HIV services at Jimma University Specialized Hospital in September 2012. The World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool (AUDIT) was used to measure probable hazardous, harmful and dependent use of alcohol ('alcohol use disorders'). Associations between AUDs and other variables were explored using logistic regression analysis. All variables associated with AUDs with a p value<0.25 were included in the final multivariable model.ResultsThe overall prevalence of AUDs was 32.6%, with hazardous use, harmful use and alcohol dependence accounting for 24.7%, 2.8% and 5.1% of the total, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of AUDs in persons receiving antiretroviral treatment compared to those who were antiretroviral therapy naïve (32.6% vs. 38.6%). AUDs were identified in 26.0% and 44.1% of females and males, respectively. Male gender, smoking cigarettes and psychological distress were positively associated independently with AUDs.ConclusionThe high prevalence of AUDs detected in our facility-based survey of PLHIV in Ethiopia highlights the need to integrate delivery of effective and feasible interventions for AUDs into HIV care.

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