Pattern of Alcohol Use and its Effects in Relation to the Age of Initiation of Alcohol Use among the Residents of Jhaukhel Area of Bhaktapur District

Vinutha Silvanus,Soman Gurung,Ravi Kant Gupta

doi:10.3126/nmcj.v23i4.42228

Vinutha Silvanus, Soman Gurung + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3126/nmcj.v23i4.42228

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Abstract

Over the past few decades, alcohol consumption has increased in quantity and frequency. Several studies have suggested that people who start drinking at younger age have an increased risk of alcohol use disorder. This study was carried out to assess the pattern of alcohol consumption in relation to the age of initiation of alcohol use among the residents of Jhaukhel area of Bhaktapur district. A cross sectional descriptive survey was conducted in Jhaukhel area of Bhaktapur district among the permanent residents aged 15 years and above through a purposive sampling technique using a pre tested self-constructed proforma. Assessment of alcohol use, harmful/ hazardous drinking and alcohol dependence was done using an AUDIT questionnaire as a tool. Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were applied and ‘p’ value was calculated to see the association between age of onset of alcohol use and the alcohol use pattern and effects. The level of significance was set at 5%, and ‘p’ value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 190 respondents were interviewed. Mean age of the respondents was 41.25 ± 16.4 years while mean age of initiation of alcohol consumption was 20 ± 4.3 years and 31 (30.4 %) of drinkers initiated alcohol consumption before legal drinking age (18 years). This was more among males (36.5%) than females (14.3%), (p-value: 0.03, OR: 3.4, 95%CI: 1-11) Initiating alcohol consumption early in life before 18 years was strongly associated with binge drinking pattern (P value: <0.001, OR: 9.5, 95%CI: 2.7-33.3). Those who initiate drinking before 18 years were more likely to suffer from alcohol related medical problems compared to those who initiated drinking after 18 years (OR: 6.63, 95% CI: 2.3-19.3, P value: 0.001). Parental consumption of alcohol was found to be associated with the early initiation of alcohol use (OR: 2.7, 95%CI: 1.01-6.96, P value: 0.03). Early initiation of alcohol consumption before legal drinking age was not only a predictor for binge drinking and alcohol dependence, but also a risk factor for alcohol related medical problem, accidents and self-inflicted injuries. Hence this is a serious issue which needs to be addressed at the individual, family as well as community level.

Highlights

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties that has been used in many cultures for centuries
Alcohol consumption habit was found to be significantly associated with gender (p-value: < 0.001), where male were 6.7 times more likely to consume alcohol than female (95% C.I: 3.528-12.573)
Thapa P et al (39.8% current drinker), and in Western Nepal 35.6%.12,13. This shows a marked variation in the prevalence of alcohol consumption between the regions within a country, which could be due to the variation in the environmental factors, ethnicity, socio-demographic and economic factors between place to place, different level of accessibility and availability of alcoholic products, methodological difference and nature of the sample like sampling population characteristics and timeline

Summary

Introduction

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties that has been used in many cultures for centuries. It is one of the most widely used substances in many parts of the world as drinking during social gatherings.[1] Harmful alcohol use is a worldwide social and medical problem. It can result in harm to other people such as family member, friends, co-workers and strangers. 3.3 million deaths every year results from harmful use of alcohol, this represent 5.9% of all death.[1]

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