Family Health International

The significant role of alcohol in HIV transmission and treatment has not been addressed in Africa. Given the widespread use of alcohol in Africa and its impact on HIV/AIDS, decision makers are now recognizing that action is needed. The authors conducted a situational analysis of the relationships between alcohol and HIV in three sub-Saharan countries: Kenya, Zambia and Rwanda. Key findings emerging from these countries include: the importance of youth as a risk group for harmful use of alcohol and increased HIV risk; the lack of enforcement of laws relating to alcohol leading to increased HIV risk; the central role of traditional and informal alcohol production in alcohol use; the lack of alcohol screening tools in antiretroviral therapy (ART); and the lack of alcohol treatment availability especially linked to voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) and ART