PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE USE AMONG ADULT PLWHA ATTENDING HIV CLINIC IN TORORO HOSPITAL, EASTERN UGANDA

Abstract

Abstract Background Substance use is known to have detrimental effects on health of individuals and families. SubSaharan African is a home to nearly 70% of Global HIV Infection and increasing substance use in this region may exacerbate this problem. Substance use impairs decision making, poor adherence to medication and other risky behaviors such as multiple sexual partners and commercial sex work. This study therefore sought to find out the prevalence and factors associated with substance use among people living with HIV/AIDS attending HIV clinic in Tororo hospital,Tororo District. Methodology This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was conducted in HIV clinic in Tororo Hospital .All adult PLWHA attending the HIV clinic during the study period and consented to participate in the study were included .Any person living with HIV/AIDS aged 18 years and above and consented to participate in the study was recruited .A patient who was acutely ill and unable to provide answers to study questions was excluded. 230 respondents were interviewed using the WHO ASSIST interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using STATA version 13.1 software. Binary Logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors associated with substance use. Results The Prevalence of substance use among adult PLWHA was found to be 30%. The most commonly used substances were alcohol, tobacco products and marijuana. The most significant factors were gender where females were less likely to use substance ( OR, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.100.55, P=0.001), having a family history of substance use(OR,95% CI 7.9,3.5-17.9 P=<0.001) and religion with non-Christian less likely to use substances compared to Christians (OR,95% CI 0.14, 0.03-0.80 P=0.027). Conclusions This study found that a high number of people attending the HIV clinic in Tororo currently use a substance of abuse(30%). The most used substance was alcoholic beverage (27.8%). Others were Tobacco (5.8%) and Marijuana (1.8%). gender of the person, religion and a family history of substance use was significantly associated with the PLWHA’s substance use.