Abstract
BackgroundWomen living with HIV have increased prevalence of medical and psychological comorbidities that could be adversely affected by alcohol consumption. Little is known about their unique motivations for drinking or perceptions of HIV-related consequences. In preparation for an alcohol intervention study, we sought to better understand reasons for drinking and perceived consequences of alcohol consumption among a sample of women living with HIV.MethodsFour focus groups, with a total of 24 adult women (96 % African-American, 88 % HIV-positive), were conducted in Jacksonville, FL, Washington, DC and Chicago, IL. Focus group discussions were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim; a conventional content analysis approach was used to identify themes, that were then grouped according to a biopsychosocial model.ResultsRegarding reasons for drinking, women described themes that included biological (addiction, to manage pain), psychological (coping, to escape bad experiences, to feel in control), and social (peer pressure, family). Themes related to consequences from alcohol included biological (damage to body, poor adherence to medications), psychological (risky or regrettable behavior, memory loss), and social (jail, loss of respect, poor choices). When discussing how their drinking impacted their health, women focused on broader issues, rather than HIV-specific issues.ConclusionMany women living with HIV are drinking alcohol in order to self-manage pain or emotions, and their perceived consequences from drinking extend beyond HIV-specific medical issues. Most participants described themes related to psychological issues and situations that are common in women living with HIV. Interventions to address drinking should inquire more specifically about drinking to manage pain or emotion, and help women to recognize the potential adverse impact of alcohol on comorbid health issues, including their own HIV infection.
Highlights
Women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have increased prevalence of medical and psychological comorbidities that could be adversely affected by alcohol consumption
In the U.S, rates of HIV infection in women are substantially higher among AfricanAmerican and Hispanic women, and women living with HIV often have previous exposure to stressors such as poverty and violence [2]
Among women living with HIV infection, approximately 10–20 % report current hazardous drinking [5, 7], and many more have a past history of hazardous drinking and are at risk for relapse [17]
Summary
Women living with HIV have increased prevalence of medical and psychological comorbidities that could be adversely affected by alcohol consumption. In preparation for an alcohol intervention study, we sought to better understand reasons for drinking and perceived consequences of alcohol consumption among a sample of women living with HIV. Alcohol consumption is linked to violence, mental health conditions and symptoms, and traumatic events or stressors, including a positive. Among women living with HIV infection, approximately 10–20 % report current hazardous drinking [5, 7], and many more have a past history of hazardous drinking and are at risk for relapse [17]. A focus only on the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption may not fully capture the range of benefits or harms that women may experience from drinking
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
