Substance Use and Associated Factors among Retro Viral Infected (RVI) Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) at Assela Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Use of substances such as alcohol, khat and tobacco has become one of the rising major public health and socio-economic problems worldwide. Many people at risk for or already infected with HIV abuse alcohol, contributing to the difficulties in preventing the spread of the infection and treating infected patients.Objective: The objective of the study was to assess prevalence of Substance use and associated factors among Retro Viral Infected (RVI) Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) at Assela Teaching Hospital, Assela Ethiopia. Methodology:A cross sectional study was conducted from June to August 2016 among 418 RVI patients who were on ART follow up at Assela Teaching Hospital. The participants were selected systematic random sampling. Socio demographic data and other relevant data was collected using semi structured questionnaire. The data was coded, cleaned and entered using Epi Info 3.5.3 then exported to Statistical Package for the Social science (SPSS) version 21 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis was used. Results:The prevalence of substance use at least once in their lifetime among RVI patient was 27.5% whereas the prevalence of current substance use was 3.8% and Alcohol was predominantly abused drug. Alcohol was the being male and friend or family substance use was strong predictors of substance abuse among the respondents. Conclusion and recommendation:This study revealed that the prevalence of substance use among RVI patient was significant. We recommend that awareness creation about the influence of substance use on HIV by health professionals have invaluable benefit.