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Background and aims Culturally relevant and feasible interventions are needed to address limited professional resources
in sub-Saharan Africa for behaviorally treating the dual epidemics of HIV and alcohol use disorder. This study tested the
efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention to reduce alcohol use among HIV-infected outpatients in
Eldoret, Kenya.
Design Randomized clinical trial. Setting A large HIV outpatient clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, affliated with
the Academic Model Providing Access to Health care collaboration.
Participants A total of 614 HIV-infected outpatients
[312 CBT; 302 healthy life-styles (HL); 48.5% male; mean age: 38.9 years; mean education 7.7 years] who reported a minimum of hazardous or binge drinking.
Intervention and comparator A culturally adapted six-session gender-stratified
group CBT intervention compared with HL education, each delivered by paraprofessionals over six weekly 90-minute sessions with a 9-month follow-up.
Measurements Primary outcome measures were percentage of drinking days (PDD)
and mean drinks per drinking day (DDD) computed from retrospective daily number of drinks data obtained by use of
the time-line follow-back from baseline to 9 months post-intervention. Exploratory analyses examined unprotected sex
and number of partners.
Findings Median attendance was six sessions across condition. Retention at 9 months
post-intervention was high and similar by condition: CBT 86% and HL 83%. PDD and DDD marginal means were signifcantly lower in CBT than HL at all three study phases. Maintenance period, PDD – CBT = 3.64 (0.696), HL = 5.72 (0.71),
mean difference 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13 – 4.04; DDD – CBT = 0.66 (0.96), HL = 0.98 (0.098), mean
difference = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.05 – 0.58. Risky sex decreased over time in both conditions, with a temporary effect for CBT
at the 1-month follow-up.
Conclusions A cognitive–behavioral therapy intervention was more efficacious than healthy
lifestyles education in reducing alcohol use among HIV-infected Kenyan outpatient drinkers-
icantly lower in CBT than HL at all three study phases. Maintenance period, PDD – CBT = 3.64 (0.696), HL = 5.72 (0.71),
mean difference 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13 – 4.04; DDD – CBT = 0.66 (0.96), HL = 0.98 (0.098), mean
difference = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.05 – 0.58. Risky sex decreased over time in both conditions, with a temporary effect for CBT
at the 1-month follow-up.
Conclusions A cognitive–behavioral therapy intervention was more efficacious than healthy
lifestyles education in reducing alcohol use among HIV-infected Kenyan outpatient drinkers. |
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