Alcohol use and abuse is an important risk factor for HIV infection in southern Africa. A number of studies have found a relationship between alcohol and HIV seropositivity. Alcohol is increasingly being recognised as an indirect contributor to the transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa as it is a key determinant of risky sexual behaviour.
Based on findings from the Third National HIV Communication Survey, this document looks at behaviour related to alcohol abuse. The intention of this paper is to assist policymakers and planners in the design of future HIV communication strategies and programmes.
The summary offers a number of different recommendations for health communication programmes. These include countering perceptions of drinking as an accepted social norm, while also promoting safer drinking practices and awareness about HIV risk while drinking, particularly to address binge drinking. Strategies to consider include using gender specific approaches, implementing interventions in drinking establishments, and advocating for policies such as warning labels and banning alcohol advertising.