Trauma exposure and alcohol use disorder among prisoners in Jimma Zone correctional institution, Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Yimenu Yitayih,Mubarek Abera,Matiwos Soboka,Kristina Adorjan,Almaz Mamaru,Elias Tesfaye

doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4796-9

Yimenu Yitayih, Mubarek Abera + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4796-9

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Abstract

ObjectiveTrauma exposure and alcohol use are closely related, and large proportion of trauma-exposed individuals use alcohol. The data presented in this paper were obtained as part of a study on substance use disorder and associated factors among prisoners in the correctional institution in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, in this study we examined comorbidity of traumatic life experiences and alcohol use disorder in inmates of correctional institution in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.ResultsThe overall prevalence of lifetime alcohol use disorder was 40.1%, and the prevalence of alcohol use disorder among prisoners with lifetime trauma exposure was 44.0%. Participants with multiple trauma exposures had 2.5-fold higher odds of association for alcohol use disorder than their counterparts (AOR = 2.47 [1.23–4.94]). Living in urban areas (AOR = 4.86 [2.38–9.94]), presence of psychopathy (AOR = 3.33 [1.25–8.86]), khat abuse (AOR = 7.39 [3.99–13.68]), and nicotine dependence (AOR = 2.49 [1.16–5.34]) were also positively associated with alcohol use disorder. The prevalence of alcohol use disorder was higher among prisoners with lifetime trauma exposure. Also, this study indicates that prisoners with multiple trauma exposures had higher odds of association for alcohol use disorder than those with no trauma exposure. A public health intervention targeting survivors of traumatic experiences needs to be designed and implemented.

Highlights

Traumatic events are extremely prevalent; they are related to adverse mental health and have social and economic consequences [1]
Factors associated with alcohol use disorder Multivariable logistic regression showed that experiencing multiple traumatic life events was significantly associated with AUD: Prisoners who had experienced multiple traumatic life events were almost three times more likely to develop AUD than prisoners with no exposure to a traumatic life event
The present study examined the presence of trauma exposure and AUD among prisoners in a correctional institution in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia

Summary

Results

Socio‐demographic characteristics A total of 329 prisoners participated in the study. Of the 209 prisoners with lifetime trauma exposure, 92 (44.0%) had AUD in the 12 months before imprisonment: 44 (21.1%) had hazardous drinking, 16 (7.7%) had harmful drinking, and 32 (15.8%) had alcohol dependence; 117 (56%) had no alcohol use problem. Among the prisoners with AUD (n = 119), 27 (22.7%) had no exposure to a traumatic life event, 23 (19.3%) had experienced one traumatic life event, and 69 (58%) had experienced multiple traumatic life events. Factors associated with alcohol use disorder Multivariable logistic regression showed that experiencing multiple traumatic life events was significantly associated with AUD: Prisoners who had experienced multiple traumatic life events were almost three times more likely to develop AUD than prisoners with no exposure to a traumatic life event (adjusted odds ratio 2.47, 95% CI 1.23, 4.94) (see Table 3)

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