Nneka Emenyonu
Biographic Data
| ID | 1730611 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nneka Emenyonu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Nneka |
| FAMILY NAME | Emenyonu |
| SIGNATURE | EMENYONU N |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of California, San Francisco |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4376-7810 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 39 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 39 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Association Between Alcohol Use, CD4 Count, and Depressive Symptoms Among People with HIV with Viral Load Suppressed in Southwestern Uganda
Despite the current effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral suppression, depression remains the most prevalent mental health challenge among people with HIV (PWH) in Uganda and worldwide. This study examined the relationship between CD4 cell count and depressive symptoms among PWH on ART with viral suppression, and the potential modification effect of alcohol use on this relationship. We combined baseline data from two longitudinal studi…
High Prevalence of Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Persons with HIV, Viral Non-suppression and Any Alcohol Use in Mbarara, Uganda
Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with HIV viral non-suppression. It is unclear how common unhealthy alcohol use is among non-suppressed persons with HIV (PWH) who drink alcohol. We conducted chart reviews to recruit PWH in Uganda with recent viral non-suppression for a study on the efficacy of gabapentin for promoting viral suppression among those with unhealthy alcohol use. Of the 288 PWH screened, 87% self-reported unhealthy alcohol use on t…
Intersectional Stigma and Health of People Living with HIV on ART Who Use Alcohol in Southwestern Uganda
HIV, TB, and alcohol use are stigmatized conditions that lead to poor care engagement and health outcomes. Stigmatized traits can operate independently or be intersectional. We examined the relationships between intersectional HIV-, TB-, and alcohol-related stigma on poorer perceived health among people with HIV (PWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy in a study examining TB infection risk among PWH in HIV care in southwestern Uganda (2022-2023). …
Participant perspectives on incentives for TB preventative therapy adherence and reduced alcohol use
Economic incentives to promote health behavior change are highly efficacious for substance use disorders as well as increased medication adherence. Knowledge about participants’ experiences with and perceptions of incentives is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and optimize future incentive-based interventions. The Drinkers’ Intervention to Prevent Tuberculosis (DIPT) trial enrolled people with HIV (PWH) in Uganda with latent tuberc…
Psychometric assessment of the Runyankole-translated Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale among persons with HIV in Uganda
We detected and mitigated measurement error in the 28-item Runyankole-translated SDS, and found that the modified 27-item scale had satisfactory construct validity and internal consistency in our sample. Future studies should continue to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Runyankole-translated SDS, including retranslating Item 14 and reevaluating its performance
Alcohol Consumption Among Persons Living with HIV
A Qualitative Exploration of Intimate Partner Violence Among HIV/TB Coinfected Persons With Problematic Alcohol Use Participating in an Incentive-Based Alcohol/Medication Adherence Intervention in Uga…
In Uganda, four in ten women report experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in the past year. Salient drivers of IPV in sub-Saharan Africa include stress related to household finances, alcohol use, and partner infidelity. We conducted 42 interviews with participants ( n = 32) in the Drinkers' Intervention to Prevent Tuberculosis (DIPT) study which included economic incentives, and their partners ( n = 10) to understand how participating in D…
Understanding Patients’ Experiences with a Brief Alcohol Reduction Intervention among People Living with HIV in Uganda
Background: Brief alcohol reduction interventions for people living with HIV (PLWH) have resulted in mixed findings with some studies showing null or limited treatment effects. To better understand factors that may contribute to their success or failure, this qualitative study sought to explore participants’ experiences in a randomized trial (RCT) of a brief counseling-based alcohol reduction intervention, including challenges that may have imped…
The Relationship between Age at Initiation of Regular Drinking of Alcohol and Viral Suppression Status, and Depression Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in South-Western Uganda
Alcohol use is an important factor in achieving and maintaining viral suppression and optimal mental health among persons with HIV (PWH), however, the effect of age at first regular drinking on viral suppression and depression remains poorly understood. Here, using secondary data from the Alcohol Drinkers' Exposure to Preventive Therapy for Tuberculosis (ADEPT-T) study, we used logistic regression analyses to explore whether there is an associati…
Costs of a Brief Alcohol Consumption Reduction Intervention for Persons Living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda
Low-cost interventions are needed to reduce alcohol use among persons with HIV (PWH) in low-income settings. Brief alcohol interventions hold promise, and technology may efficiently deliver brief intervention components with high frequency. We conducted a costing study of the components of a randomized trial that compared a counselling-based intervention with two in-person one-on-one sessions supplemented by booster sessions to reinforce the inte…
Effects of a Covid-19 Public Health Lockdown on Drinking and Health Behavior Among Persons with HIV and with Unhealthy Alcohol use in Uganda
To better understand the impact of Uganda’s initial COVID-19 lockdown on alcohol use, we conducted a cross-sectional survey (August 2020-September 2021) among persons with HIV (PWH) with unhealthy alcohol use (but not receiving an alcohol intervention), enrolled in a trial of incentives to reduce alcohol use and improve isoniazid preventive therapy. We examined associations between bar-based drinking and decreased alcohol use, and decreased alcoh…
Unhealthy alcohol use and intimate partner violence among men and women living with HIV in Uganda
Prevalence of IPV victimization was comparable to estimates from a recent national survey, while perpetration among men was lower than expected. Alcohol use level was not associated with IPV victimization. It is possible that alcohol use in this sample was too high to detect differences in IPV. Our results suggest that women and younger PWH are priority populations for IPV prevention
Bar Attendance and Alcohol Use Before and After Covid-19 Related Restrictions Among HIV-infected Adults in South-Western Uganda
Alcohol use is especially problematic for people living with HIV (PLWH) and was likely to be impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its restrictions. In a study of PLWH with latent tuberculosis infection, we measured unhealthy alcohol use with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), phosphatidylethanol (PEth) and bar attendance. We analyzed data collected before and after COVID-19 restrictions, and used Gener…
Concordance Between Point-of-Care Urine Ethyl Glucuronide Alcohol Tests and Self-Reported Alcohol Use in Persons with HIV in Uganda
Exploring the Association Between Social Support and Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Persons Living with HIV in South Western Uganda
Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda
Correlates and Effects of Alcohol Use Expectancies Among Persons Living with HIV in Uganda
Assessing the interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use prior to antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among people living with HIV in Rural Uganda
Although there is evidence of individual associations between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH), few studies have established how the two risk factors may interact to predict viral suppression. We conducted secondary data analyses with two cohorts of Ugandan PLWH (N = 657) to investigate the hypothesized interaction between depressive symptoms (…
Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults
Phosphatidylethanol confirmed alcohol use among ART-naïve HIV-infected persons who denied consumption in rural Uganda
Under-reporting of alcohol use by HIV-infected patients could adversely impact clinical care. This study examined factors associated with under-reporting of alcohol consumption by patients who denied alcohol use in clinical and research settings using an alcohol biomarker. We enrolled ART-naïve, HIV-infected adults at Mbarara Hospital HIV clinic in Uganda. We conducted baseline interviews on alcohol use, demographics, Spirituality and Religiosity…
Alcohol Types and HIV Disease Progression Among HIV-Infected Drinkers Not Yet on Antiretroviral Therapy in Russia and Uganda
The Relationship Between Spirituality/Religiousness and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults in Southwestern Uganda
Vaginal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Is a Useful Biomarker of Semen Exposure Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Women
Alcohol Interactive Toxicity Beliefs and ART Non-adherence Among HIV-Infected Current Drinkers in Mbarara, Uganda
Alcohol Consumption in Ugandan HIV-Infected Household-Brewers Versus Non-Brewers
The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/Aids in rural Uganda
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Increased Use of Contraceptives Among HIV-Positive Women During Expanding Access to Antiretroviral Therapy in Mbarara, Uganda
Objectives. We investigated whether the prevalence of contraceptive use among women who are HIV positive varied according to use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Mbarara, Uganda. Methods. We used data from a cross-sectional survey of 484 women who were HIV positive (18–50 years) and were attending Mbarara University's HIV clinic, 45% of whom were receiving HAART. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the assoc…
Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults
Alcohol Use, Depressive Symptoms and the Receipt of Antiretroviral Therapy in Southwest Uganda
Patterns of care in two HIV continuity clinics in Uganda, Africa
The study objectives were to identify opportunities to improve the quality of care in resource-limited settings by examining the workflow and patient activities at two large outpatient HIV clinics in Uganda. Using time motion study techniques, we collected detailed data on all activities of patients and clinicians in two government-sponsored HIV clinics in Uganda. Processes measured included amount of time clinicians (physicians, nurse practition…
Antiretroviral Therapy is Associated with Increased Fertility Desire, but not Pregnancy or Live Birth, among HIV+ Women in an Early HIV Treatment Program in Rural Uganda
The WHOMEN’s Scale (Women’s Haart Optimism Monitoring and EvaluatioN Scale v.1) and the Association with Fertility Intentions and Sexual Behaviours Among HIV-Positive Women in Uganda
Transportation Costs Impede Sustained Adherence and Access to Haart in a Clinic Population in Southwestern Uganda
The cost of transportation for monthly clinic visits has been identified as a potential barrier to antiretroviral (ARV) adherence in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, although there is limited data on this issue. We conducted open-ended interviews with 41 individuals living with HIV/AIDS and attending a clinic in Mbarara, Uganda, to understand structural barriers to ARV adherence and clinical care. Almost all respondents cited the need to locate …
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Increased Use of Contraceptives Among HIV-Positive Women During Expanding Access to Antiretroviral Therapy in Mbarara, Uganda
Objectives. We investigated whether the prevalence of contraceptive use among women who are HIV positive varied according to use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Mbarara, Uganda. Methods. We used data from a cross-sectional survey of 484 women who were HIV positive (18–50 years) and were attending Mbarara University's HIV clinic, 45% of whom were receiving HAART. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the assoc…
Real-Time Adherence Monitoring for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy
Current adherence assessments typically detect missed doses long after they occur. Real-time, wireless monitoring strategies for antiretroviral therapy may provide novel opportunities to proactively prevent virologic rebound and treatment failure. Wisepill, a wireless pill container that transmits a cellular signal when opened, was pilot tested in ten Ugandan individuals for 6 months. Adherence levels measured by Wisepill, unannounced pill counts…
Biomarker Testing to Estimate Under-Reported Heavy Alcohol Consumption by Persons with HIV Initiating ART in Uganda
Alcohol affects the transmission and treatment of HIV, yet may be under-reported in resource-limited settings. We compared self-reported alcohol consumption with levels of plasma carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT), a biomarker of heavy alcohol consumption, in persons initiating antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. Almost seven percent (6.7%) of persons reporting abstaining and 10% reporting consuming 1-40 drinks in the prior month tested posi…
The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/Aids in rural Uganda
Food insecurity is associated with morbidity and patterns of healthcare utilization among HIV-infected individuals in a resource-poor setting
OBJECTIVE: We undertook a longitudinal study in rural Uganda to understand the association of food insecurity with morbidity and patterns of healthcare utilization among HIV-infected individuals enrolled in an antiretroviral therapy program. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: Participants were enrolled from the Uganda AIDS Rural Treatment Outcomes cohort, and underwent quarterly structured interviews and blood draws. The primary predicto…
No Association Found Between Traditional Healer Use and Delayed Antiretroviral Initiation in Rural Uganda
Sexual Relationship Power and Malnutrition Among HIV-Positive Women in Rural Uganda
Qualitative Study of Changes in Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults Entering Care and Treatment for HIV/Aids in Rural Southwest Uganda
Alcohol has a substantial negative impact on the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Uganda, where heavy alcohol consumption is common. Using a content analytic approach, this qualitative study characterizes changes in alcohol use among 59 HIV-infected Ugandan adults (>18 years old), who reported any alcohol use in the previous year as they entered HIV care. Most participants reported attempting to cease or reduce alcohol intake o…
Vaginal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Is a Useful Biomarker of Semen Exposure Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Women
Alcohol Interactive Toxicity Beliefs and ART Non-adherence Among HIV-Infected Current Drinkers in Mbarara, Uganda
Alcohol Consumption in Ugandan HIV-Infected Household-Brewers Versus Non-Brewers
Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity Among People Living with HIV in Mbarara, Uganda and St. Petersburg, Russia
Phosphatidylethanol confirmed alcohol use among ART-naïve HIV-infected persons who denied consumption in rural Uganda
Under-reporting of alcohol use by HIV-infected patients could adversely impact clinical care. This study examined factors associated with under-reporting of alcohol consumption by patients who denied alcohol use in clinical and research settings using an alcohol biomarker. We enrolled ART-naïve, HIV-infected adults at Mbarara Hospital HIV clinic in Uganda. We conducted baseline interviews on alcohol use, demographics, Spirituality and Religiosity…
Alcohol Types and HIV Disease Progression Among HIV-Infected Drinkers Not Yet on Antiretroviral Therapy in Russia and Uganda
The Relationship Between Spirituality/Religiousness and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults in Southwestern Uganda
Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults
Assessing the interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use prior to antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among people living with HIV in Rural Uganda
Although there is evidence of individual associations between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH), few studies have established how the two risk factors may interact to predict viral suppression. We conducted secondary data analyses with two cohorts of Ugandan PLWH (N = 657) to investigate the hypothesized interaction between depressive symptoms (…
Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use Among People Living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda
Correlates and Effects of Alcohol Use Expectancies Among Persons Living with HIV in Uganda
Unhealthy alcohol use and intimate partner violence among men and women living with HIV in Uganda
Prevalence of IPV victimization was comparable to estimates from a recent national survey, while perpetration among men was lower than expected. Alcohol use level was not associated with IPV victimization. It is possible that alcohol use in this sample was too high to detect differences in IPV. Our results suggest that women and younger PWH are priority populations for IPV prevention
Medicine (36 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (35 works) · Public health (26 works) · Environmental health (25 works) · Health psychology (23 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (23 works) · Internal Medicine (20 works) · Alcohol (15 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (15 works) · Psychiatry (14 works)