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Alcohol use disorders among the Yami aborigines in Taiwan. An inter-ethnic comparison
Background:
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among the Yami aborigines in Taiwan were investigated and compared with four other taiwanese aboriginal groups.
Method:
A sample survey was conducted using a semi-structured clinical interview for AUDs among 252 subjects, aged 15 and above, from two Yami villages on Orchid Island.
Results:
The prevalences of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV alcohol use disorders were 13.1% and 10.3% by one year, and 17.5% and 15.2% by lifetime, respectively, with a male excess. The risk for AUDs in Yami men was significantly associated with a lower educational level, a non-married status, and the length of stay in mainland Taiwan. A protective effect of Christian belief was evident for lifetime risk for AUDs.
Conclusions:
The lower prevalences of AUDs in Yami than in other aboriginal groups in Taiwan might be explained by social isolation of the former, and differences in drinking tradition, availability of alcohol, biological vulnerability, and the extent of acculturation between these groups.
