- Miller, Amanda P;
- Shoptaw, Steven;
- Mvududu, Rufaro;
- Mashele, Nyiko;
- Coates, Thomas J;
- Bekker, Linda-Gail;
- Essack, Zaynab;
- Groenewald, Candice;
- Peterson, Zaino;
- Gorbach, Pamina M;
- Myer, Landon;
- Davey, Dvora L Joseph
This study examines associations between alcohol use and HIV sexual risk among a cohort of HIV-uninfected pregnant women (n=1201) residing in a high HIV burden community in South Africa. Alcohol use was measured using a modified version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). HIV sexual risk was measured through a composite variable of four risk factors: diagnosis with a STI, self-report of >1 recent sex partners, partner HIV serostatus (unknown or HIV+) and condomless sex at last sex. Any past year alcohol use prior to pregnancy was reported by half of participants (50%); 6.0% reported alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol use prior to pregnancy was associated with increased odds of being at high risk of HIV (aOR=1.33 for 2 risks and aOR=1.47 for 3 risks). In addition to reducing alcohol use, several other strategies to address HIV sexual risk in this population were identified.