Zimbabwe Substance Use and Alcohol Screening Validation (Z-SUAV)

Addressing behavioral health conditions that co-occur with HIV, including both unhealthy drinking, substance use in people living with HIV (PLHIV) is an important part of meeting the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets.
In Zimbabwe, 12.7% of the population is living with HIV, and 20.5% of men living with HIV are estimated to have unhealthy alcohol use, which contributes to poor virologic suppression and HIV transmission. The prevalence of substance use is expected to increase by 40% in Africa by 2030, the fastest growing incidence of substance use of any world region.
Alcohol and substance use often goes unaddressed in HIV care in Zimbabwe, even though psychological therapies for alcohol and substance use disorder are available. This is, in part, due to under-recognition of unhealthy alcohol or substance use due to lack of validated, evidence-based screening tools.
Freely available alcohol and substance screening tools, including the 3-item AUDIT-C and a single-item alcohol use screener (AUDIT-C question 3) are widely used in general medical settings worldwide, but none has been validated in Zimbabwe. Differences in language, culture, and drinking patterns make generalizing the validity of these tools from other countries to Zimbabwe inappropriate. Further, due to lack of trained health professionals in alcohol and substance use
Due to lack of trained healthcare workers in alcohol and substance use screening and treatment, and limited resources to offer these services, the majority of individuals living with alcohol and substance use disorders have no where to turn for help and support in Zimbabwe.

Together with collaborators from the University of Washington and University of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Substance Use and Alcohol Screening Validation (Z-SUAV) Study will validate simple, easy to use alcohol and substance use disorder screening tools with a sample of PLHIV accessing routine HIV care and treatment. Z-SUAV will be implemented in health facilities where OPHID is implementing the Target, Accelerate and Sustain Quality Care for HIV epidemic control (TASQC).

Watch this space! In 2025 Z-SUAV will: 

  • Provide critical evidence regarding the prevalence of alcohol and substance use disorders among recipients of HIV care.
  • Validate translated (Shona and Ndebele) alcohol and substance use screening tools for the Zimbabwean context  
  • Inform ‘’real-time’’ evidence-based program adaptations in the OPHID TASQC program to improve the quality of HIV care in over 520 public health facilities
  • Provide the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care with evidence and validated tools that are locally validated with potential adoption within national policy as standard of care.

Want to get involved?

Z-SUAV is a prime example of an OPHID incubator with the potential to develop EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS AND STRATEGIES with the POTENTIAL TO SCALE IN CONTEXT and impact the lives of millions. Want to get involved to support those with alcohol or substance use disorders to receive evidence-based care and support for recovery and healthier, happier futures? 
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