Gender Differences In Alcohol Use Research Articles

A mixed-methods comparison of gender differences in alcohol consumption and drinking characteristics among patients in Moshi, Tanzania.

Excessive alcohol use stands as a serious threat to individual and community well-being, having been linked to a wide array of physical, social, mental, and economic harms. Alcohol consumption differs by gender, a trend seen both globally and in Moshi, Tanzania, a region with especially high rates of intake and few resources for alcohol-related care. To develop effective gender-appropriate treatment interventions, differences in drinking behaviors between men and women must be better understood. Our study aims to identify and explore gender-based discrepancies in alcohol consumption among Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) patients. A systematic random sampling of adult patients presenting to KCMC's Emergency Department (ED) or Reproductive Health Center (RHC) was conducted from October 2021 until May 2022. Patients answered demographic and alcohol use-related questions and completed brief surveys, including the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Through purposeful sampling, 19 individuals also participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) that focused on identifying gender differences in alcohol use. Quantitative data was analyzed in RStudio through descriptive frequencies, proportions, ANOVA, and Chi-squared tests, while IDIs were analyzed in Nvivo following a grounded theory approach. During the 8-month data collection timeline, 676 patients were enrolled. Men and women patients at KCMC's ED and RHC were found to have significant differences in their alcohol use behaviors. For our quantitative data, this included lower average AUDIT scores among women (average [SD] AUDIT scores were 6.76 [8.16] among ED men, 3.07 [4.76] among ED women, and 1.86 [3.46] among RHC women). A subsequent IDI analysis revealed greater social restrictions around women's drinking and more secretive alcohol use behaviors for where and when women would drink. For men, excess drinking was normalized within Moshi, tied to men's social interactions with other men, and generally motivated by stress, social pressure, and despair over lack of opportunity. Significant gender differences in drinking behaviors were found, primarily influenced by sociocultural norms. These dissimilarities in alcohol use suggest that future alcohol-related programs should incorporate gender in their conceptualization and implementation.

Are Cisgender Women and Transgender and Nonbinary People Drinking More During the COVID-19 Pandemic? It Depends.

This narrative review of research conducted during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic examines whether alcohol use among cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people increased during the pandemic. The overarching goal of the review is to inform intervention and prevention efforts to halt the narrowing of gender-related differences in alcohol use. Eight databases (PubMed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Gender Studies Database, GenderWatch, and Web of Science) were searched for peer-reviewed literature, published between March 2020 and July 2022, that reported gender differences or findings specific to women, transgender or nonbinary people, and alcohol use during the pandemic. The search focused on studies conducted in the United States and excluded qualitative research. A total 4,132 records were identified, including 400 duplicates. Of the remaining 3,732 unique records for consideration in the review, 51 were ultimately included. Overall, most studies found increases in alcohol use as well as gender differences in alcohol use, with cisgender women experiencing the most serious consequences. The findings for transgender and nonbinary people were equivocal due to the dearth of research and because many studies aggregated across gender. Alcohol use by cisgender women seems to have increased during the pandemic; however, sizable limitations need to be considered, particularly the low number of studies on alcohol use during the pandemic that analyzed gender differences. This is of concern as gender differences in alcohol use had been narrowing before the pandemic; and this review suggests the gap has narrowed even further. Cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people have experienced sizable stressors during the pandemic; thus, understanding the health and health behavior impacts of these stressors is critical to preventing the worsening of problematic alcohol use.

Gender Differences in Alcohol Use: a Nationwide Study in a Multiethnic Population

The increase in alcohol consumption, and the greater consequences of chronic alcohol use among females, as well as the convergence of the gender gap warrants investigation. This paper aims to uncover gender differences in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Singapore. The SMHS 2016 was a population-based, cross-sectional, epidemiological study. Recruitment spanned from August 2016 to March 2018, where 6126 respondents were recruited. Similarly to global estimates, lifetime prevalence and 12-month prevalence for AUD were higher in males than females. However, females had a higher prevalence of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) co-morbidity than males. Women also had an earlier onset and age of recovery of AUD than men. Alarmingly, male (94.14%) and female (100%) respondents reported low help-seeking for their AUD. Gender differences in individuals with AUD were identified in Singapore population. Future research should direct its effort to identify barriers to help-seeking for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Men's decrease and women's increase in harmful alcohol use from the 2014 to 2018 national surveys in Taiwan: A harbinger for an emerging national trend in East Asia?

Gender differences in alcohol use have narrowed in Western societies, but that in Asia has been less investigated. By comparing the 2014 and 2018 waves of the national survey in Taiwan, we aimed to examine the gender differences in population trends in past-month alcohol use, binge drinking, and harmful alcohol use. The national survey enrolled 17,837 participants in 2014 and 18,626 participants in 2018. Binge drinking was defined as having ≥5 drinks on one occasion in the past month, and harmful alcohol use as having an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score of ≥8. There were significant decreases from 2014 to 2018 in the population's prevalence of past-month alcohol use, binge drinking, and harmful alcohol use. However, males and females had different trends: males showed significant reductions in all three alcohol use behaviours (a decrease of 3.79%, 1.59%, and 2.60%, respectively), while females exhibited a significant rise in harmful alcohol use (from 1.32% to 1.72%), particularly among those aged 18-29 years. There was gender convergence in alcohol use in Taiwan, mainly due to men's decrease and women's increase in harmful alcohol use. Our findings have important implications for the intervention and prevention of the problematic use of alcohol in East Asia.

Cohort effects on gender differences in alcohol use in the United States: How much is explained by changing attitudes towards women and gendered roles?

Gender differences in binge drinking have converged in recent cohorts, due in part to faster decreases in consumption among boys in adolescence, and faster increases in consumption among women in young to middle adulthood. Changes in education and occupation explain a portion, but not all, of these differences; the present study examines how attitudes about gender, religion and family additionally explain cohort effects in binge drinking by sex. Data were drawn from the Monitoring the Future panel studies, including >54,000 participants who were high school seniors from 1976 through 2006, followed to age 29/30 from 1988 through 2016. The main effect relationship between cohort and binge drinking was assessed, and 28 items on gender, religion and family were evaluated to determine if mediation criteria were met; mediation models assessed direct and indirect effects. Results indicated that gender, religion and family attitudes and beliefs among US adults across the 20 th and 21 st centuries have shifted dramatically but not monotonically. US adolescents and adults have largely become less religious; some attitudes on women and family have become less conservative and some more. Among men, views on marriage showed the largest mediation effects; agreeing with the statement ‘one partner is too restrictive’ mediated 3.35% of the cohort effect (95% C.I. 2.42, 4.31) and ‘couples should live together before they are married’ mediated 1.6% of the cohort effect (95% C.I. −2.37, −0.8). Among women, declines in religious service attendance mediated 2.0% of cohort effects in binge drinking (95% C.I. −3.03, −1.09), as well as similar family attitudes as men. In conclusion, changes in social roles, as well as some gender, and religious views, partially mediate cohort effects on binge drinking for men and women. The dynamic changes in how adolescents and adults view family and gender are important components of alcohol epidemiology.

Gender Convergence in Alcohol Consumption Patterns: Findings from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016.

Gender differences in alcohol use have narrowed over the decades. This study aimed to explore changes in alcohol consumption patterns between 2007 and 2016 to identify gender convergence in alcohol use in Korea. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. For all respondents (41,662 girls/women and 32,041 boys/men) aged ≥12 years, lifetime drinking, current drinking, age of drinking onset, heavy alcohol use, and binge drinking were analyzed. Gender differences in heavy alcohol use and binge drinking decreased from 2007 to 2016 (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of heavy alcohol use and binge drinking decreased in boys/men (67.5% to 63.9%, p = 0.001; 63.4% to 60.9%, p = 0.001, respectively), but not in girls/women (50.2% to 50.4%, p = 0.279; 30.6% to 32.0%, p = 0.994, respectively). The proportion of lifetime abstainers decreased among both girls/women (24.3% to 19.1%, p < 0.001) and boys/men (12.1% to 9.7%, p = 0.01). In girls/women, the mean age of drinking onset decreased (from 24.1 to 23.6 years, p = 0.017); however, in boys/men, significant changes were not observed (from 18.9 to 18.7 years, p = 0.307). Healthcare providers should be aware of the growing health risks resulting from increased unhealthy alcohol use in women and develop gender-specific preventive interventions.

Parenting as an inhibitor of gender disparities in alcohol use: the case of early adolescents in China

BackgroundGender differences in alcohol use are more substantial among early adolescents in China than in the United States, presumably because of more permissive drinking norms for boys than girls in Chinese culture. This study tested a theory that gender differences in early experimentation with alcohol can be reduced through general parenting practices. Whereas traditional research has identified mediators of gender differences in alcohol use, the current research isolated moderators of gender differences and developed their implications for prevention programs.MethodsThe study analyzed the data from the China Global School-Based Student Health Survey (n = 8805 middle school students in four cities). Youth completed anonymous surveys in classroom settings. The study examined interaction effects between gender and parenting variables using multiple regression with robust standard errors.ResultsEarly adolescent boys exhibited higher levels of drinking than girls for all drinking outcomes. The gender differences in drinking were negatively associated with the level of perceived parental monitoring, parental involvement in adolescent school performance, and parental empathy in a nonlinear way.ConclusionsResults suggested that early adolescents’ perceptions of general parenting practice nonlinearly moderated gender disparities in alcohol use.

External resources of resilience in association with the alcohol use among early adolescents

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the role of external resources of resilience in explaining the alcohol use in past 30 days among early adolescents. Methods A representative sample of 653 (52.9% girls) early adolescents (mean age =11.72 at T1; mean age = 13.09 at T5) was collected within a five wave repeated measure design with a baseline(T1), 3-month follow up(T2), 6-month (T3), 12-month(T4) and 18-month follow-up(T5). Alcohol use (AU) in the past 30 days was measured by a questionnaire of the international study ESPAD. School support (SS), school activities participation (SAP), home support (HS) and home activities participation (HAP) were measured by the Resilience Youth Development Module and represented external resources of resilience. Respondent's AU (dichotomized: 0-not used, 1-used) served as the outcome variable and external resources of resilience served as the independent variables. Binary logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results At T1, SS (95% CI = 0.77-0.96; p&amp;lt;0.01) was associated with lower AU while SAP (95% CI = 1.00-1.36; p&amp;lt;0.05) was associated with higher AU. At T2, SS (95% CI = 0.73-0.94; pα&amp;lt;0.01) and HS (95% CI = 0.70-0.98; pα&amp;lt;0.05) were associated with lower AU. AT T3, no significant association was found with AU and finally at T4 and T5 only HS (95% CI = 0.81-1.00; T4=pα&amp;lt;0.05), (95% CI = 0.78-0.96; T5=pα&amp;lt;0.01) remained significantly associated with lower AU at T4 and T5 while controlling for alcohol use at T1. AU increased significantly across the five waves (pα&amp;lt;0.01). Gender differences in AU were found only at T1 (p&amp;lt;0.01) with boys scoring higher. Conclusions The 5 measurement revealed a trend of the external resources of resilience in AU shifting from the school environment to the home environment. Moreover, it seems that SAP is associated with a higher probability of AU through more opportunities for group activities which are often associated with AU. Key messages School environment plays an important role in explaining AU in younger early adolescents. Home environment plays an important role in explaining AU in older early adolescents. The results point to an increasing trend in alcohol use among early adolescents.

Ethnic, gender, and seasonal difference in heavy drinking and protective behavioral strategies among student-athletes

Relations among gender, ethnicity, athlete seasonal status, alcohol consumption, and protective behavioral strategies were examined among student-athletes. The national sample (N = 670, Mage = 18.90) included Black (n = 199), Hispanic (n = 236), and White (n = 235) college student-athletes who use alcohol. There were significant gender and ethnic differences in alcohol consumption as well as gender differences in use of protective behavioral strategies. Within-group gender differences in alcohol use and PBS were present for White and Hispanic but not Black student-athletes. Implications for tailored prevention/intervention efforts and future directions are discussed.

HIV, Alcohol Use Disorders and Pain: New Findings to Address the Problem

Background: Alcohol use and pain are frequent problems among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Therefore, increasing the understanding of the interaction between these medical conditions is critical to improve health care and quality of life forthis population. While gender differencesin alcohol use andmood disorders are widely recognized, little is known about gender disparities in prescription of painkillers and correlates. Equally important is the lack of information regarding the role of neurotrophic factors although animal models have demonstrated BDNF pronociceptive effects. Methods: Using a clinic-based sample of people living with H.I.V/AIDS (PLWHA), we investigated the prevalence and correlates associations of recent pain killer use. We also assessed the effects of gender, mood and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels (BDNF). Participants were 400 people living with HIV (PLWHA) who participated in the PADS cohort study. Results: Approximately, a quarter (24%) of the sample reported regularly taking painkillers, and a correlation was evident with both CD4s and viral loads. Painkiller users were typically over 40. Ifthey weremales, painkiller users weremore likely to be Caucasian; however, painkiller female users were more likely to be minorities. Factors related to painkiller use also differed between men and women. Analyses demonstrated that the weekly consumption of alcohol was significantly higher in the painkiller group compared to controls (19.4 ± 3.9 vs. 15.9 ± 1.34 drinks/week; p=0.03). Compared to non-hazardous alcohol users (non-HAU), female-hazardous alcohol users (HAU’s) were more likely to be using prescription opioids (Odds Ratio: 4.6 95% Confidence Interval: 1-22.9, p=0.04). No such trend was observed among males. Noteworthy, higher scores of both depression and stress were observed among painkiller users. Gender differences were notable; women using painkillers exhibited significantly higher scores on both depression (19.6 ± 12.4 vs. 13.6 ± 11.7 total score; p=0.01), and stress (19.4 ± 8.3 vs. 14.9 ± 8.1 total score; p=0.004) while men did not. In our analyses, BDNF levels were significantly higher among subjects taking painkillers than those not taking them. In Longitudinal analyses, confirmed that hazardous alcohol use, BDNF levels, and gender were associated with greater odds of using painkillers at 6 months. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of designing gender-sensitive surveillance, prevention, and treatment. Our findings extend earlier research by revealing that BDNF may account for important aspects of pain and alcohol abuse. The apparent implication of these findings is that interventions targeting BDNF may have considerable therapeutic potential in this population

Surveying the Damage: The Consequences of Alcohol Misuse among Students in Public Universities in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Heavy and problematic alcohol use among college students has become a serious public health issue in Kenya. This alcohol consumption among the college student population is associated with numerous negative consequences such as assault, injury, risky sexual behavior, academic problems and property damage among others. This study sought to examine the prevalence of alcohol consumption among students in two public universities. The paper explored the drinking trends among students in the domains of normal use, harmful/hazardous drinking and alcohol dependency. The research design was a survey. The study area was University of Eldoret and Moi University in Uasin Gishu County. Four hundred students responded to the 10 item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Babor, Saunders, Higgins-Biddle and Monteiro,1992) [1] Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12. Descriptive statistics was adopted for frequencies and percentages. T-test was used to analyze gender differences in alcohol use. As this research documents, 30% of the respondents were taking an alcoholic drink at least once a month. Among the students using alcohol, 30% were engaging in hazardous alcohol use, while 49.5% were engaged in harmful alcohol use. A significant number of respondents displayed tendencies towards alcohol dependence (34%). There is need for universities to formulate effective intervention measures to help curb high alcohol consumption among students.

Study of alcohol consumption and its sociodemographic determinants in a tribal village in Mandla district

Background: Alcohol consumption is considered a serious public health problem in many countries including India because of the associated health hazards and antisocial consequences. Nearly 70% of Indian population resides in villages, and the main occupation is farming which belongs to lower and lower-middle class. Gender differences in alcohol use have been recognized, but socioeconomic differences remain underresearched. It is, therefore, important in certain population groups such as tribal village population to find the extent of alcohol consumption and its sociodemographic determinants. Objective: To find the prevalence of alcohol consumption and its sociodemographic determinants. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in a tribal village Meera Tola, Madhya Pradesh, during the months of October 14–January 15. A total of 214 villagers were interviewed. The study was conducted by personal house-to-house visits with a pretested oral questionnaire method. The data were collected on sociodemographic profile, occupation, and literacy status of each member of family. Result: Overall prevalence of alcohol use was 8.26% among male and 0.95% among female subjects. Maximum consuming population was found in the age groups of 60 years and older, followed by 30–39 years. Alcohol consumption was more prevalent among illiterate (6.7%) when compared with literate (5.3%). Alcohol consumption pattern according to occupational status was found to be most prevalent among farmers and laborers (13%), followed by unemployed population (8.3%). Conclusion: Socioeconomic class and education pose direct impact on alcohol consumption in rural tribes. Efforts must be directed toward educational intervention for quitting alcohol among lower class and illiterates.

Gender Differences in Alcohol Use and Risk Drinking in Ontario Ethnic Groups

This article examines prevalence and gender differences of alcohol use and risk drinking in a representative sample of Ontario adults. Data were drawn from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor survey of Ontario adults aged 18 and older collected between January 2005 and December 2010. The prevalence of self-reported lifetime, current, and high-risk drinking were all higher among the Canadian and the European-origin groups compared with other ethnic groups. Within-group gender differences were evident for all ethnic groups. The narrowest gender gap was observed within the North European group and the widest in the South Asian group. The non-European ethnic groups had higher rates of abstinence and lower alcohol consumption rates; nevertheless, a considerable proportion of people from these groups may be at risk of alcohol-related harm due to risky and harmful alcohol consumption patterns. Future research should continue to investigate alcohol use in these groups and identify subgroups at risk and factors that increase or decrease their vulnerability to risky and problem drinking.

Gender differences in alcohol consumption among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States and Korea.

To compare gender differences in alcohol use and the socioeconomic correlates of at-risk drinking among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States (US) and South Korea. Data were drawn from large nationally representative surveys of people aged 45 years and older, collected in 2006. Rates of any drinking and at-risk drinking (>14 US standard drinks/week) were higher for males than females in all countries and these gender differences were largest in Korea. Socioeconomic differentials for at-risk drinking varied by country and gender. In the US, at-risk drinking was associated with lower educational levels among men, but higher educational levels among women; in Korea, it was associated with being unpartnered, particularly for women; and in Australia, at-risk drinking was associated with higher income. Gender-role expectations differ between countries and may influence both the levels at which older adults consume alcohol and the ways in which at-risk drinking is associated with socioeconomic factors. Heavy alcohol use in middle-aged and older adults is a cause for concern. Health promotion strategies should target older age groups and consider the ways in which gender, marital status and education influence norms and opportunities for risky alcohol use.

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Affects Serum Enzymes Levels in the HIV-Infected Patients on Stavudine (d4T)/Lamivudine (3TC)/Nevirapine (NVP) Treatment Regimen

Chronic alcohol use is a common problem globally among the HIV-infected patients on ARV treatment regimens, leading to severe liver damage and increase in serum enzymes. The study determined effect of chronic alcohol intake on serum enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT)) in HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP treatment regimen in Uganda using the WHO alcohol use disorders’ identification test (AUDIT) tool and chronic alcohol use biomarkers (ALT, AST, GGT, AST/ALT ≥ 2.0 and mean corpuscular volume (MCV)). A case control study using repeated measure design with serial measurements model was used. Alcohol use biomarkers were used to standardize the gender differences in alcohol use. A total of 41 patients (21 alcohol group and 20 control group) were followed up for 9 months with blood sampling done at 3 month intervals. The serum enzymes’ levels were determined by using the Cobas Intergra 400 Plus analyzer system. The mean GGT levels were higher in chronic alcohol use group as compared to control group in both groups. The levels were above reference ranges during 6 month and three times higher during 9-month follow-up period for both chronic alcohol use self reporting WHO AUDIT tool and biomarkers’ groups. Generally, the mean AST, ALT and AST/ALT levels were slightly higher in alcohol use group as compared to control group and were slightly higher in both groups as compared to reference ranges during the 9 month follow-up period. Chronic alcohol consumption by HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP drug regimen increased GGT and AST/ALT serum enzyme levels and hence was used as chronic alcohol use biomarkers.

Youth gender differences in alcohol use: A prospective study of multiple youth assets and the neighborhood environment

Research has identified factors (assets) that protect youth from engaging in risk behaviors including alcohol use. Very little research has examined asset/nonuse of alcohol associations by youth gender or determined if asset/nonuse of alcohol associations are influenced by the neighborhood environment. The purpose of the study was to determine if multiple youth assets and neighborhood factors are differentially associated with youth nonuse of alcohol by gender. Method: Five waves of data were collected annually from households (N = 1111) randomly selected to participate in the Youth Asset Study. Seventeen assets and 6 neighborhood factors assessed at waves 1 - 4 were analyzed longitudinally using marginal logistic regression to predict nonuse of alcohol at waves 2 - 5. Results: Sample mean age was 14.3 years, 52% female; 39% white, 28% Hispanic, 23% African-American, and 9% other. Numerous assets were prospec- tively associated with alcohol nonuse for females (12 assets) and males (16 assets). Three assets were significantly more protective from alcohol use for males compared to females. Final modeling indicated that three assets were protective from alcohol use for both genders and that one asset was protective only for males. There were no significant associations between the neighborhood variables and nonuse of alcohol, and the neighborhood variables did not influence the asset/nonuse of alcohol associations. Conclusions: Youth assets appear to protect both genders from future alcohol use but males may benefit even more from asset-building prevention programming. Youth alcohol use and alcohol nonuse/asset associations may not be influenced by the neighborhood environment.

Risky alcohol use among reproductive-age men, not women, in Mae La refugee camp, Thailand, 2009

BackgroundGlobally, alcohol use contributes to close to 4% of all deaths and is a leading cause of ill health and premature death among men of reproductive age. Problem alcohol use is an unaddressed public health issue among populations displaced by conflict. Assessing the magnitude of the problem and identifying affected groups and risk behaviours is difficult in mobile and unstable populations.MethodsFrom 15–28 December 2009 we conducted a simple rapid screening test of risky alcohol use using the single item modified Short Assessment Screening Questionnaire (mSASQ) by all women currently enrolled in the antenatal care clinic in Mae La refugee camp, a long standing displaced setting on the Thai Burma border. Women self- reported and gave a secondary report of their male partners. Gender differences in alcohol use were further explored in semi-structured interviews with camp residents on attitudes, behaviours, and beliefs regarding alcohol and analysed thematically.ResultsOf 636 women screened in the antenatal clinic, almost none (0.2%, 95CI 0.0-0.9%) reported risky alcohol use prior to pregnancy, whereas around a quarter (24.4%, 95CI 21.2-27.9%) reported risky alcohol use by their male partners. Interviews with 97 camp residents described strong social controls against women’s alcohol use and men’s drinking to intoxication, despite a dominant perception that the social context of life in displacement promoted alcohol use and that controls are loosening.ConclusionsAs a stigmatised behaviour, alcohol use is difficult to assess, particularly in the context of highly mobile adult male populations: the simple assessment methods here show that it is feasible to obtain adequate data for the purposes of intervention design. The data suggest that risky drinking is common and normalised among men, but that the population may have been partially protected from rapid rises in problem alcohol use observed in nation-wide data from Thailand. The changing social context contains vulnerabilities that might promote problem alcohol use: further investigation, ongoing monitoring, and development of targeted interventions are warranted.

Analysis of Gender Differences in Alcohol Use and Related Problems among University Students in Minsk, Belarus

Abstract — There is a variety of inconsistencies in the differences in alcohol use and related problems between male and female genders. This study was aimed at analyzing the gender differences in alcohol use and related problems among university students in Minsk, Belarus. A total of 465 male (average age of 21) and 1030 female (average age of 20.5) students from four major universities in Minsk, Belarus were administered WHO recommended standardized screening instruments – AUDIT, MAST, CAGE questionnaire, as well as other alcohol related questions. The male to female ratio for the prevalence of alcohol problems according to the AUDIT was 3.34, while the ratio for alcohol users was 0.97. There are a wide gender differences in the pattern of alcohol use and preference for different alcoholic beverages, cause for drinking, and other alcohol related problems like injuries and blackouts. Keywords — Alcohol related problems, Gender differences, University students, Belarus. I. INTRODUCTION HERE is a variety of inconsistencies of data concerning the differences in the prevalence and pattern of alcohol use and related problems between male and female genders [1]. Although, no significant gender differences in the proportion of alcohol users were recorded by [2] in a study of 247 respondents in Uganda, other studies show a significant difference in alcohol use by both genders [1] – [3].

Alcohol Consumption among Men and Women with Tuberculosis in Tomsk, Russia

Drinking behavior among Russian women remains poorly described. We analyzed gender differences in alcohol use among 374 tuberculosis patients in Tomsk, Siberia. Twenty-six (28.3%) women had lifetime alcohol abuse or dependence, compared with 70.6% of men. Women with alcohol use disorders drank 12.7 +/- 14.0 standard drinks per day and > or = 34.6% drank 2 three days per week. Among individuals with a lifetime alcohol use disorder, age of onset and typical consumption did not differ significantly by gender. We conclude that Russian women with alcohol use disorders consume almost as much alcohol as men and may be at greater risk for negative social and medical consequences.

Rurality, Region, Ethnic Community Make-Up and Alcohol Use Among Rural Youth

As the most widely used substance among adolescents in the United States, alcohol remains a critical public health issue. The majority of research in this area has focused on individual-level variables. This study examined the contextual effects of rurality, geographic region, and community ethnicity in the prediction of alcohol use among adolescent youth. Participants were 7th-12th grade students from a sample of 260 rural communities across the United States, with oversampling for predominantly Mexican American and African American communities. The total sample comprised 213,225 students. Multilevel modeling was used to estimate both individual and contextual effects for use of alcohol and getting drunk. Those living in more rural communities were somewhat more likely to have used alcohol and gotten drunk than their less rural counterparts. Consistent with a trend toward a narrowing gender gap across a number of substances, gender differences in alcohol use were not large, except in the South. A minority in a community, eg, a white student in an African American community, had greater risk for alcohol use and getting drunk. Models of alcohol use among rural youth that include only individual-level variables are likely to result in misleading results. While students from varying levels of rurality may not differ substantially from one another, geographic region and minority status within communities are likely to interact with individual-level variables, resulting in unique patterns of alcohol use and getting drunk.