Does perceived life stress mediate the association between HIV status and alcohol use?: evidence from adults living in Cape Town, South Africa
SOURCE: AIDS Care
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2013
TITLE AUTHOR(S): L.A.J.Scott-Sheldon, M.P.Carey, K.B.Carey, D.Cain, R.Vermaak, J.Mthembu, V.Mehlomakulu, L.C.Simbayi, S.C.Kalichman
KEYWORDS: ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, CAPE TOWN, HIV/AIDS, SHEBEENS, STRESS
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 7866
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9277
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9277
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2013
TITLE AUTHOR(S): L.A.J.Scott-Sheldon, M.P.Carey, K.B.Carey, D.Cain, R.Vermaak, J.Mthembu, V.Mehlomakulu, L.C.Simbayi, S.C.Kalichman
KEYWORDS: ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, CAPE TOWN, HIV/AIDS, SHEBEENS, STRESS
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 7866
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9277
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9277
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world. Because living with HIV is stressful and because alcohol consumption is often used to cope with stress, we examined whether stress mediates the association between HIV status and alcohol use among adults residing in South African townships. Field workers approached pedestrians or patrons of informal alcohol-serving venues (i.e., shebeens) and invited their participation in a survey. Of the 1717 participants (98% Black, 34% women, mean age = 31 years), 82% were HIV-negative, 9% were HIV-positive, and 9% did not know their test result. Participants living with HIV reported greater perceived life stress compared to participants whose HIV status was negative or unknown. Perceived stress was associated with an increase in the frequency of alcohol use (drinking days, intoxication, and drinking in shebeens/taverns). Subsequent analyses showed that stress mediated the association between HIV status and alcohol use. These findings indicate that greater frequency of drinking days, perceived intoxication, and drinking at shebeens was associated with elevated stress levels among participants who were HIV positive. Perceived life stress mediates the association between HIV status and alcohol use. Programs to enhance stress management among HIV-positive South Africans may help to reduce alcohol consumption, which may, in turn, lead to reduced rates of HIV transmission.-
Related Research Outputs:
- HIV risks associated with patronizing alcohol serving establishments in South African townships, Cape Town
- HIV/AIDS risks among men and women who drink at informal alcohol serving establishments (shebeens) in Cape Town, South Africa
- Brief HIV risk reduction intervention for sexually transmitted infection clinic patients who use alcohol in Cape Town
- Alcohol expectancies and risky drinking among men and women at high-risk for HIV infection in Cape Town, South Africa
- A brief HIV risk reduction intervention for male and female patients with a sexually transmitted infection who use alcohol in primary health care clinic in Cape Town, South Africa
- Sensation seeking and alcohol use predict HIV transmission risks: prospective study of sexually transmitted infection clinic patients, Cape Town, South Africa
- Randomized trial of a community-based alcohol-related HIV risk-reduction intervention for men and women in Cape Town South Africa
- Stress, substance use and sexual risk behaviors among primary care patients in Cape Town, South Africa
- Heterosexual anal intercourse and HIV infection risks in the context of alcohol serving venues, Cape Town, South Africa
- Condom negotiation, HIV testing, and HIV risks among women from alcohol serving venues in Cape Town, South Africa
- Bringing it home: community survey of HIV risks to primary sex partners of men and women in alcohol-serving establishments in Cape Town, South Africa
- Alcohol and risks for HIV/AIDS among sexually transmitted infection clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa
- Abstract: Determinants of the use of voluntary counselling and testing services among the sexually active adult population of South Africa
- HIV testing attitudes, AIDS stigma, and voluntary HIV counselling and testing in a black township in Cape Town, South Africa
- Alcohol use and sexual risks for HIV infection among men and women receiving sexually transmitted infection clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa
- Video clips capture lessons in caring
- Gender attitudes, sexual violence, and HIV/AIDS risks among men and women in Cape Town, South Africa
- Responsible alcoholic beverages sales and services training intervention in Cape Town: a pilot study
- Sexual assault, sexual risks and gender attitudes in a community sample of South African men
- Preliminary findings of the HIV and Alcohol Prevention Programme (HAPS) in South African township schools