Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa

Heavy alcohol consumption and other drug use are prominent across Africa and increase the risk of exposure to violence, HIV acquisition, and other life-threatening injuries. This review synthesizes evidence on alcohol and other drug (AOD) interventions in Africa; evaluates the differences between in...

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Main Authors: Wechsberg, W.M., van der Drift, I., Howard, B.N., Myers-Franchi, Bronwyn, Browne, F.A., Bonner, C.P., Carney, T., Ndirangu, J., Washio, Y.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89382
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author Wechsberg, W.M.
van der Drift, I.
Howard, B.N.
Myers-Franchi, Bronwyn
Browne, F.A.
Bonner, C.P.
Carney, T.
Ndirangu, J.
Washio, Y.
author_facet Wechsberg, W.M.
van der Drift, I.
Howard, B.N.
Myers-Franchi, Bronwyn
Browne, F.A.
Bonner, C.P.
Carney, T.
Ndirangu, J.
Washio, Y.
author_sort Wechsberg, W.M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Heavy alcohol consumption and other drug use are prominent across Africa and increase the risk of exposure to violence, HIV acquisition, and other life-threatening injuries. This review synthesizes evidence on alcohol and other drug (AOD) interventions in Africa; evaluates the differences between interventions that do and do not specifically target populations that use AODs; and highlights the impact of comprehensive vs. brief interventions and those that address syndemic issues from a gender and contextualized lens. Literature searches were conducted to identify research outcomes of randomized interventions published between January 2010 and May 2022 that address AOD use in Africa. Thirty-five full-text articles were included in this review. Most of the identified research studies were concentrated in a few countries. Most studies were conducted in South Africa. Many of the studies comprised brief interventions. However, the most comprehensive interventions were the most effective for AOD outcomes. Several studies indicated the importance of addressing AOD use alongside gender-based violence, mental health needs, gender roles, and other social determinants that affect health outcomes. Intervening on AOD use and addressing social determinants from a gender and contextually relevant perspective is essential to ensuring the long-term health and well-being of people in Africa.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-893822022-10-17T02:23:00Z Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa Wechsberg, W.M. van der Drift, I. Howard, B.N. Myers-Franchi, Bronwyn Browne, F.A. Bonner, C.P. Carney, T. Ndirangu, J. Washio, Y. alcohol and other drug use drug use interventions social determinants women Africa Alcohol Drinking Female Health Promotion Humans Male Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Sex Factors Substance-Related Disorders Treatment Outcome Heavy alcohol consumption and other drug use are prominent across Africa and increase the risk of exposure to violence, HIV acquisition, and other life-threatening injuries. This review synthesizes evidence on alcohol and other drug (AOD) interventions in Africa; evaluates the differences between interventions that do and do not specifically target populations that use AODs; and highlights the impact of comprehensive vs. brief interventions and those that address syndemic issues from a gender and contextualized lens. Literature searches were conducted to identify research outcomes of randomized interventions published between January 2010 and May 2022 that address AOD use in Africa. Thirty-five full-text articles were included in this review. Most of the identified research studies were concentrated in a few countries. Most studies were conducted in South Africa. Many of the studies comprised brief interventions. However, the most comprehensive interventions were the most effective for AOD outcomes. Several studies indicated the importance of addressing AOD use alongside gender-based violence, mental health needs, gender roles, and other social determinants that affect health outcomes. Intervening on AOD use and addressing social determinants from a gender and contextually relevant perspective is essential to ensuring the long-term health and well-being of people in Africa. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89382 10.3390/ijerph19148661 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext
spellingShingle alcohol and other drug use
drug use
interventions
social determinants
women
Africa
Alcohol Drinking
Female
Health Promotion
Humans
Male
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Sex Factors
Substance-Related Disorders
Treatment Outcome
Wechsberg, W.M.
van der Drift, I.
Howard, B.N.
Myers-Franchi, Bronwyn
Browne, F.A.
Bonner, C.P.
Carney, T.
Ndirangu, J.
Washio, Y.
Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title_full Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title_fullStr Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title_short Gender and Context Matter: Behavioral and Structural Interventions for People Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs in Africa
title_sort gender and context matter: behavioral and structural interventions for people who use alcohol and other drugs in africa
topic alcohol and other drug use
drug use
interventions
social determinants
women
Africa
Alcohol Drinking
Female
Health Promotion
Humans
Male
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Sex Factors
Substance-Related Disorders
Treatment Outcome
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89382