PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE AMONG NIGERIAN COHORT WITH HIV/AIDS: FREQUENCY, TYPES AND DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES.

Introduction: There are good pointers from literature to the detrimental impacts of psychoactive substance use in HIV/AIDS patients. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence, types and demographic correlates of psychoactive substance use among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: The study participants consisted of 295 adults with HIV/AIDS and were interviewed with a designed questionnaire that consisted of two parts. The first part contained questions to elicit socio-demographic and treatment related information of the participants, while the second part focused on psychoactive substance use.

Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 37.6 (±8.6) years, and majority (61.0%) of them were made up of females. Most of the subjects were married, 181 (61.4%) and employed 174 (59.0%). Of the total participants, 64 (21.7%) reported use of a form of psychoactive substance, among which the largest proportion (19.3%) reported use of alcohol, 1.4% use cannabis while 1% admitted to use of nicotine. Following regression analyses, being male (Odds Ratio =2.38; 95% Confidence Interval: 95% CI = 1.26 - 4.49; p=0.008) and increasing educational attainment (Odds Ratio = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.45; p=0.02) correlated positively with psychoactive substance use, while being single (Odds Ratio = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.35 - 0.99; p=0.047) correlated negatively.

Conclusion: Proactive and targeted intervention strategies against psychoactive substance use among people living with HIV/AIDS using what is known about vulnerability are implied. Further research on the complex relationship between HIV/AIDS and psychoactive substance use is indicated.