Alcohol Use Belongs Inside the HIV Care Conversation

HIV programmes rightly focus on viral suppression and retention, but long-term wellbeing can also be shaped by alcohol use, mental health and other behavioural risks. About 31.4% reported alcohol use in the previous year; among drinkers, 45.5% met the risky-use definition and heavy episodic drinking was also present, with younger adults and women prominent in adjusted analyses. Repeated HIV-care contact creates an opportunity to identify risky alcohol use and link people to appropriate support rather than treating behavioural health as a separate system.