Associations between patterns of alcohol use and viral load suppression amongst women living with HIV in South Africa

This study aimed to identify alcohol use patterns associated with viral non-suppression among women living with HIV (WLWH) and the extent to which adherence mediated these relationships. Baseline data on covariates, alcohol consumption, ART adherence, and viral load were collected from 608 WLWH on ART living in the Western Cape, South Africa. We defined three consumption patterns: no/light drinking (drinking $ 1/week and $ 4 drinks/occasion), occasional heavy episodic drinking (HED) (drinking > 1 and $ 2/week and $ 5 drinks/occasion) and frequent HED (drinking $ 3 times/week and $ 5 drinks/occasion). In multivariable analyses, occasional HED (OR 3.07, 95.78-5.30) and frequent HED (OR 7.11, 95.24-11.92) were associated with suboptimal adherence. Frequent HED was associated with viral non-suppression (OR 2.08, 95.30-3.28). Suboptimal adherence partially mediated the relationship between frequent HED and viral non-suppression. Findings suggest a direct relationship between frequency of HED and viral suppression. Given the mediating effects of adherence on this relationship, alcohol interventions should be tailored to frequency of HED while also addressing adherence.