Alcohol use before sex and HIV acquisition: a longitudinal study in Rakai, Uganda

Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem and is associated with sexually transmitted infections, but the association with HIV is unclear [2]. Alcohol use is common, and disinhibition as a result of alcohol may precipitate and reinforce sexual risk-taking [2–13]. Two cross-sectional studies in Uganda have suggested associations between alcohol use, risk behaviors and prevalent HIV infection [12,14]. However, there are no prospective studies of alcohol use in conjunction with sex and HIV acquisition. We used data from a population based cohort in Rakai, Uganda, to determine whether alcohol use before sex was associated with the risk of HIV acquisition, and risk behaviors.

Keywords

Alcohol, HIV, risk behaviors, Uganda

Citation

Zablotska, I. B., Gray, R. H., Serwadda, D., Nalugoda, F., Kigozi, G., Sewankambo, N., ... & Wawer, M. (2006). Alcohol use before sex and HIV acquisition: a longitudinal study in Rakai, Uganda. Aids, 20(8), 1191-1196.