142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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304010
Neighborhood factors that contribute to alcohol use and loneliness in HIV positive patients

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Erica Kiernan, DPT, MOT , Public Health Department, Social and Behavorial Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: Neighborhood factors contribute to substance abuse and increased health risk behavior. Alcohol use has adverse consequences as it may interfere with antiretroviral medication adherence. In addition, studies have shown that those who are HIV positive have decreased social network size, limited social support, and social isolation as well as decreased treatment adherence. It is hypothesized that participants with high neighborhood density of alcohol outlets combined with increased feelings of loneliness will be more likely to drink.

Methods: Participants included 85 patients from an HIV treatment clinic in Jacksonville. Interviewer-administered measures included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Geographical Information Systems was used to map participant residential area and surrounding neighborhood factors. This study collected cross-sectional, retrospective data. Multi-linear regression using UCLA scores and geographic alcohol outlets availability were used as predictors of drinking behavior.

Results: UCLA scores (β = 0.088, p = .012) and number of alcohol outlets (β = 0.040, p = .028) were significant predictors of AUDIT scores. UCLA scores and number of alcohol outlets accounted for 10.4% (R2 = .104) of variance of AUDIT scores.

Conclusion: There was co-occurrence of alcohol use and self-reported loneliness among patients currently in treatment for HIV. There also appears to be a relationship with neighborhood factors, alcohol use, and loneliness but further research is needed.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how neighborhood factors can effect drinking behaviors and the perception of loneliness in the HIV positive population.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a doctoral student in the Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences program. My area of research interest and future dissertation is in HIV community based research and intervention. The main focus of my research pertains to social support within the HIV positive community and how it relates to treatment adherence.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3044.0: Alcohol Use and HIV