Check out the current issue of URBAN ARCH News, the quarterly newsletter bringing you news on the latest URBAN ARCH and related research.
URBAN ARCH Trainees: Then and Now
In this edition of the URBAN ARCH Newsletter, we highlight URBAN ARCH trainees and where their career paths have taken them.
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Article Spotlight
In People with HIV, TB, and Heavy Drinking, HIV and Alcohol Stigma is Associated With Poorer Perceived Health, Especially Among Unmarried Individuals
People with HIV, TB, and substance use experience intersectional stigma that is associated with poor health outcomes and decreased healthcare engagement. Researchers conducted an analysis of data from the TB Risk by Alcohol Consumption (TRAC) Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Uganda to assess associations between risk of TB among people with HIV (PWH) and heavy alcohol use. This analysis characterized the incidence of HIV, TB, and substance use stigma in the cohort (overall and by gender), intersectional stigma’s association with poorer perceived health, and whether any associations were moderated by marital status.
- Among the 379 PWH in the cohort, 12 percent reported their health status to be “fair/poor.”
- A high level of intersectional HIV and alcohol stigma was associated with an increased odds of poorer perceived health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.62); it was also associated with marital status (Wald χ2= 5.02). There were no significant associations found between other intersections of HIV, TB, and alcohol stigma and odds of poorer perceived health.
- In stratified analyses, high levels of intersectional HIV and alcohol stigma were associated with increased odds of poorer perceived health among unmarried participants (aOR, 2.54), but not among those who were married.
Comments: In this cohort, intersectional HIV and alcohol stigma were associated with poorer perceived health, especially among unmarried individuals. These findings indicate the potential role of increased social support for unmarried people with these comorbidities to help address the negative impacts of stigma on healthcare receipt and outcomes.
Reference: Gutin SA, Atukunda E, Khorassani FS, et al. Intersectional Stigma and Health of People Living with HIV on ART Who Use Alcohol in Southwestern Uganda. AIDS Behav. 2026 [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1007/s10461-026-05120-7.
New URBAN ARCH Publications
- Favina A, Fatch R, Rao SR, Chamie G, Muyindike W, Adong J, Emenyonu NI, Tumwegamire A, Ngabirano C, Kekibiina A, Kara M, Beesiga B, Carrico AW, Hahn JA. Association Between Alcohol Use, CD4 Count, and Depressive Symptoms Among People with HIV with Viral Load Suppressed in Southwestern Uganda. AIDS Behav. 2026 Jul 21. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42479397.
- Fisk-Hoffman RJ, Kekibiina A, Muyindike WR, Cheng H, Agumenaitwe P, Truong V, Allison O, Gnatienko N, Tsui JI, Hahn JA, Emenyonu N, Forman L, Shan W, Karsten L, Samet JH. High Prevalence of Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Persons with HIV, Viral Non-suppression and Any Alcohol Use in Mbarara, Uganda: A Brief Report. AIDS Behav. 2026 May 29. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42213305.
- Gutin SA, Atukunda E, Khorassani FS, Fatch R, So-Armah K, Tumwegamire A, Emenyonu NI, da Silva CE, Ngabirano C, Lunze K, Adong J, Muyindike W, Hahn JA. Intersectional Stigma and Health of People Living with HIV on ART Who Use Alcohol in Southwestern Uganda. AIDS Behav. 2026 Apr 3. Epub ahead of print.
- Truong V, Kekibiina A, Muyindike WR, Gnatienko N, Tsui JI, Emenyonu NI, Cheng DM, Hahn JA, Allison O, Bullard MJ, Lunze K, Samet JH. Gabapentin to achieve HIV viral load suppression in people with risky drinking in Mbarara, Uganda: study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (GRAIL). Trials. 2026 Jun 3;27(1):452. PMCID: PMC13312690.
Events and Conferences
- The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2026: November 17-20, 2026; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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