title: Alcohol use, mental health, and HIV-related risk behaviors among adult men in Karnataka.
abstract: This study critically examined associations among past year alcohol use, self-rated mental health and HIV risk-related behaviors for men and their partners, i.e., two or more partners and/or perpetration of partner violence. Data are reported from a population sample of 1,137 men aged 16-49 in Karnataka. Overall, 9.5% of all men reported HIV risk-related behaviors, 38.1% consumed alcohol, and about half (54.5%) of all current drinkers met criteria for hazardous alcohol use. Hazardous alcohol use and poorer mental health remained significantly associated with HIV-risk related behaviors after controlling for socio-demographics and psychosocial risk factors. More severe alcohol misuse, specifically alcohol dependence, and co-morbid hazardous alcohol use and poorer mental health, was associated with over two- and five-fold increases, respectively, in men's HIV risk-related behaviors. Implications of findings for HIV prevention and intervention programs for men and their partners and directions for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6475 Christie Avenue, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. mnayak@arg.org
authors.forename: Madhabika B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Korcha
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benegal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult