Alcohol use and subsequent sex among HIV-infected patients in an ethnic minority area of Yunnan Province, China

• Published in: PloS one 2013-04, Vol.8 (4), p.e61660
• Main Authors: Luo, Xiaofeng, Duan, Song, Duan, Qixiang, Pu, Yongcheng, Yang, Yuecheng, Ding, Yingying, Gao, Meiyang, He, Na
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcoholism - ethnology; Alcoholism - psychology; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Binge Drinking - ethnology; Binge Drinking - psychology; China - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drinking (Alcoholic beverages); Drinking behavior; Drug abuse; Drug use; Drugs; Education; Educational Status; Ethnic factors; Female; Health aspects; Health risks; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - ethnology; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV patients; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Males; Medical research; Medicine; Middle Aged; Minorities; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups - psychology; Patients; Risk-Taking; Rural areas; Rural communities; Rural Population; Sex; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - ethnology; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social and Behavioral Sciences; STD; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - ethnology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Wine; Wines
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061660

To examine alcohol use and subsequent HIV risky behaviors among a sample of predominately ethnic minority people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in a rural community in Yunnan Province, China. A cross-sectional study with a face-to-face questionnaire interview was conducted among eligible participants. In total, 455 (94.4%) out of 482 eligible HIV patients participated in the study. Of them, 82.6% were ethnic minorities; 15.4% were never married; 96.5% were sexually experienced; 55.4% had used drugs, 67% were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Over 65% were ever drinkers; of whom 61.5% were current drinkers. Among current drinkers, 32.4% drank daily and 41.2% were hazardous drinkers. Chinese white wine was the preferred choice. Higher level of alcohol use among drinkers in the preceding month was positively associated with being males (OR = 2.76, 95%CI: 1.03-7.43), ethnic minorities (OR Jingpo = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.06-4.59; OR other minorities = 3.20, 95%CI: 1.34-7.62), higher education (OR1-6 = 1.98, 95%CI: 0.99-3.96; OR≥7 = 2.35, 95%CI: 1.09-5.06) and being ART-naive (OR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.67-4.32). About 39% of ever drinkers reported having engaged in sex after drinking since HIV diagnosis. Those who were younger than 46 years (OR16-25 = 7.77, 95%CI: 1.22-49.60, OR26-35 = 2.79, 95%CI: 1.06-7.35, OR36-45 = 2.96, 95%CI: 1.57-7.58), hazardous drinkers (OR = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.00-3.97) and drug users (OR = 3.01, 95%CI: 1.19-7.58) were more likely to have had sex after drinking. Approximately 56% of drug users had used drugs after drinking. High prevalence of alcohol use and subsequent risky behaviors including sexual engagement and drug use among HIV patients in rural Yunnan require tremendous and integrated efforts for prevention and control of alcohol and drug abuse and HIV spreading.