Perceptions of alcohol risk among individuals living with HIV.

The documented prevalence of alcohol use among individuals with HIV is higher than reported among the general public. Little is known about how populations with HIV perceive the risks of alcohol use and what they consider to be safe levels of consumption. This qualitative study was conducted to increase understanding of the situations and environments in which alcohol is consumed and to explore the perceptions of risks among individuals with HIV, who were engaged in medical care and using alcohol regularly. Nineteen qualitative semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. The major themes that arose from these analyses were patterns of alcohol use, perceptions of risk based on the type of alcohol used, and the impact alcohol had on health. Findings suggest that alcohol is used regularly with little perception of risk; alcohol is perceived to have little effect on health and HIV progression; and providers rarely discuss alcohol use with patients. Future research includes assessment of alcohol use and the delivery of brief interventions to improve general health and HIV-related outcomes.