Problematic Alcohol Use in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Problematic alcohol use (PAU) poses significant risks to physical, psychological, and social well-being.
• Understanding community-level PAU prevalence and associated factors is crucial for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the community-level prevalence of problematic alcohol use (PAU) in Central Ethiopia.
• To identify demographic, social, and clinical factors associated with PAU in this population.

Main Methods:

• A community-based cross-sectional study involving 1,380 adults in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
• PAU was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).
• Multivariable logistic regression with LASSO selection identified factors associated with PAU, including sex-stratified analyses.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of PAU was 15.5%, with significantly higher rates in men (26.3%) than women (3.4%).
• Factors associated with PAU included male sex, unemployment, smoking, high blood pressure, stressful life events, and family history of PAU.
• Sex-specific factors were identified, with different risk profiles for men and women.

Conclusions:

• PAU prevalence is high in Central Ethiopia, particularly among men, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions.
• Interventions should address identified risk factors such as smoking, stress, and family history.
• Selective prevention strategies for individuals with a family history of PAU or exposure to stressful life events are recommended.