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Alcoholic intake in a small rural village
J Tejera1, F Santolaria, E González-Reimers
1Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|January 1, 1991
Summary
This study on rural Tenerife inhabitants found that male sex, middle age, and tobacco use correlate with higher alcohol consumption. Many individuals consume low amounts, but risk levels were detected in 12.1% of adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Alcohol Research
Background:
- Alcohol consumption patterns and associated factors are crucial for public health interventions.
- Understanding the prevalence of at-risk drinking in rural populations is essential for targeted strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze daily alcoholic intake in a rural Tenerife population.
- To investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and demographic, social, and behavioral factors.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of screening tools like CAGE and brief MAST.
Main Methods:
- Randomly selected inhabitants (n=818) from a rural village in southern Tenerife were surveyed.
- Data collected included daily alcoholic intake, sex, age, marital status, education, economic level, job, and tobacco use.
- The CAGE and brief MAST questionnaires were administered to assess alcohol use disorders.
Main Results:
- 68.9% of subjects consumed alcohol; 12.1% (23.85% males, 1.4% females) consumed at 'risk' levels (>80g/day males, >40g/day females).
- Mean ethanol intake was significantly higher in males (37.9 g/day) than females (3.9 g/day), peaking in males aged 55-64.
- Higher consumption was linked to male sex, middle age, being married, unskilled jobs, low education, and tobacco use.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption in this rural population exhibits characteristics described by Lederman's curve, with most consuming small amounts.
- Demographic and socioeconomic factors significantly influence alcohol intake levels.
- Standard screening tools (CAGE, brief MAST) showed limited sensitivity in detecting at-risk drinkers in this population.