Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
BACKGROUND: There is a limited population-based data on hazardous alcohol use and associated social determinants in many African countries. OBJECTIVES: To examine patterns of hazardous alcohol use across a range of social determinants of health in Uganda, with a particular focus on gender differences. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data collected in 2021-2022 from an open population cohort spanning urban, semi-urban, and rural communities. Alcohol use was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C). Covariates were selected according to the WHO's Social Determinants of Health framework. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 3459 participants, 2085 (60%) were women. Overall, the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use was 5% among women and 18% among men. Strong positive associations with hazardous use were found for individuals residing in semi-urban areas (female aPR 2.1 95% CI 1.3-3.3, male aPR 1.8 95% CI 1.4-2.5), past-year perpetration of intimate partner violence (female aPR 2.2 95% CI 0.8-5.6, male aPR 1.4 95% CI 0.9-2.2), smoking, middle age for men (aPR 1.6 95% CI 1.2-2.2), and employment as a vendor in a restaurant or bar for women (aPR 1.5 95% CI 1.0-2.2). Strong negative associations were found for high educational attainment, Muslim or Pentecostal religion, and living in a marriage or union for women (aPR 0.7 95% CI 0.5-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Hazardous alcohol use was prevalent, especially among men, in a representative Ugandan population sample. Specific target groups for public health and clinical interventions were identified, such as women working in the hospitality sector. Residents of semi-urban communities may encounter unique risks for hazardous alcohol use, compared with rural and highly urban populations.
Ziegel et al. (Thu,) studied this question.