Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Population-level alcohol use data are available from high-income countries, but limited research has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize population-level alcohol use in sub-Saharan Africa.

Databases searched included PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and AJOL, without language restrictions. Searches were also conducted in the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) and Google Scholar. Search terms encompassed 'substance' or 'substance-related disorders' and 'prevalence' and 'sub-Saharan Africa'. We included general population studies on alcohol use (including any use, high-risk alcohol use and alcohol use disorders) from 2018 onwards. Prevalence data for alcohol use among sub-Saharan African adolescents (10-17) and adults (18+) were extracted. Analyses included life-time and past 12- and 6-month alcohol use.

We included 141 papers. Among adolescents, the life-time prevalence of alcohol use was 23.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 11.3-37.1%], 36.2% (CI = 18.4-56.1%) in the past year and 11.3% (CI = 4.5-20.4%) in the past 6 months. Among adolescents, 12-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence were 7.7% (CI = 0.0-27.8%) and 4.1% (CI = 1.4-7.9%), respectively. Among adults, the life-time prevalence of alcohol use was 34.9% (CI = 17.7-54.1%), 27.1% (CI = 5.0-56.4%) in the past year and 32.2% (CI = 19.8-46.0%) in the past 6 months. Among adults, the 12-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence were 9.5% (CI = 0.0-30.4%) and 4.3% (CI = 0.8-9.8%), respectively. The highest weighted life-time prevalence of alcohol use, 86.4%, was reported in Tanzania among adults. The highest weighted past 6-month prevalence of alcohol use, 80.6%, was found in Zambia among adolescents.

Alcohol use patterns vary across countries and subregions within sub-Saharan Africa, and comprehensive population-level data on alcohol use remain scarce in numerous sub-Saharan African countries. The prevalence of alcohol use disorder is common among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.