Alcohol consumption and associated factors among people with diabetes mellitus: a multicentre institution-based...

Alcohol use disorders are a group of behavioural, cognitive, and physical symptoms caused by repeated alcohol use. The impacts of alcohol consumption are particularly concerning in developing countries, where the burden of sickness and social repercussions linked to alcohol use are significantly greater than the global average. Alcohol consumption can affect the outcome of the disease and worsen its course through a number of mechanisms. Clinically, early intervention via creative screening, brief intervention, and referral strategies can successfully manage the hazardous drinking of diabetes mellitus in primary care settings. In Ethiopia, no research has been conducted on the prevalence of alcohol consumption among diabetes mellitus or the factors that are linked to alcohol consumption. To assess the prevalence and associated factors of alcohol consumption among diabetes mellitus patients who had follow up at selected Hospitals in the East Gojam Zone, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022. An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted at hospitals located in the East Gojam Zone. A total of 616 participants were selected via a systematic random sampling technique and interviewed via a structured questionnaire. The first participant was selected via the lottery method for each hospital, and other participants were selected every other interval. Alcohol consumption was assessed via the alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT). The data were coded and entered into Epi data version 4.4.2.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. To indicate the strength of the association, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used. A total of 616 participants were interviewed, for a response rate of 96.86. Once medication was started, 228 (37%) of the study participants consumed alcohol. Male sex (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI: 2.07-5.13), living in rural areas (AOR = 3.84, 95% CI: 1.85-8.00), poor social support (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.02-3.08) and moderate stress (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.12-11.31) were found to be significantly associated with alcohol consumption (p < 0.05). The prevalence of alcohol consumption among diabetes mellitus was high in this study area. Being male, living in rural areas, having poor social support and having moderate stress were found to be significantly associated with alcohol consumption (p < 0.05).