HIV Prevention
Case Study: Alcohol Consumption and HIV Risk
Alcohol consumption can impair judgment and reduce inhibition, leading to risk—taking behavior. Key research findings reveal that alcohol use and HIV risk behavior are strongly associated in developing countries. A number of surveys have found that people who drink alcohol engage in unprotected sex, multiple partnering, and commercial sex more often than do non-drinkers.
Through their innovative Community Popular Opinion Leader (CPOL) approach, the Y.R. Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education (Y.R.G. CARE) provided peer education on the risks of alcohol consumption and HIV in informal bars known as wine shops in Chennai, India between 2002 and 2007. Using "I statements" to convey relatable personal experiences, focusing more realistically on risk reduction rather than risk elimination, and continually seeking new information on the social and structural environment in Chennai helped Y.R.G. CARE develop an adaptable, peer-based HIV prevention program.
Attached resource:
