O15.4 Predictors of incorrect HIV care initiation beliefs among people living with HIV/AIDS in chókwè district, mozambique

Abstract

Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with 30 PLHIV with hazardous alcohol use from an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic in the Thai Nguyen to inform item development. Alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). We tested items in a quantitative survey of 1,559 ART clinic patients in Thai Nguyen to assess internal reliability (Cronbach's a) and structural validity (exploratory factor analysis, EFA). We used binomial logistic regression to estimate associations between AAS (median score >7) and alcohol use. Results Using the results from the qualitative interview data, we developed the AAS scale with seven final items covering internalized, experience, and anticipated stigma, with scores ranging from 7 to 35. The scale had good internal consistency (a=0.75). EFA suggested the presence of two factors (r=0.42) that explained 64.5% of the total variance. Overall, the median AAS score was 7 (IQR:7-11). Those with alcohol dependence symptoms (AUDIT!20) reported high levels of AAS (median=9, IQR:7-14) and non-harmful alcohol users (AUDIT<8) reported lower levels of AAS (median=7, IQR:7-9). AAS was significantly associated with alcohol dependency, (adjusted prevalence ratio APR =1.74, 95%CI: 1.53,1.99), adjusting for age, gender, and employment status. Conclusion The AAS scale may be utilized or adopted to measure of alcohol abstinence stigma among PLHIV in settings where alcohol us is culturally encouraged. This new measure will aid future studies assessing the value of developing culturally sensitive strategies to reduce alcohol consumption and ultimately improving HIV treatment outcomes among PLHIV. Disclosure No significant relationships.