Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With Alcohol Abuse in Moshi, Northern Tanzania

Datos Bibliográficos

ID24078483
AutoresTisha Mitsunaga (World Health Organization - Pakistan), Ulla Larsen (University of Maryland, College Park)
Año2008
Volumen40
Número3
Páginas379-399
Fecha de publicación2008-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932007002441
PMID17956648
OpenAlexW2132178586
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas9

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and risk factors associated with alcohol abuse among women and men in Moshi in northern Tanzania. Alcohol abuse was measured by a CAGE score of 2–4, versus 0–1 for no alcohol abuse (Ewing, 1984). Crude and adjusted logistic regression models determined odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of alcohol abuse by characteristics of, respectively, women with partners ( n =1200), women without partners ( n =614) and men ( n =788) (women’s partners). Prevalence of alcohol abuse was 7·0% (95% CI: 5·6–8·4) among women with partners, 9·3% (95% CI: 7·0–11·6) among women without partners, and more than double among men at 22·8% (95% CI: 19·9–25·8). In general, Christians had higher alcohol abuse than Muslims or other religions, as did Chagga men compared with men of other ethnic groups. Other socio-demographic characteristics, such as education or income, were not significant. Sexual behaviours were significant predictors of alcohol abuse. For example, women without partners who reported more than two partners in the last year had higher alcohol abuse compared with women reporting no partners (OR=8·75; 95% CI: 2·37–32·31), as did men reporting it is ‘OK to hit a partner’ for any reason (OR=1·79; 95% CI: 1·16–2·77) compared with men who did not. HIV-1 infection was not significantly associated with alcohol abuse by women or men. The Christian Church in Moshi should consider raising awareness about the harmful effects of high alcohol use among its adherents. Comprehensive programmes focusing on reducing number of partners and alcohol use, particularly by men, are needed in this community.

Alcohol abuse · Domestic violence · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Injury prevention · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Sexual abuse · Substance abuse · Tanzania · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Homelessness and Social Issues · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Sex work and related issues