Problematic alcohol consumption, knowledge of recommended drinking limits, drinks, and health risks among future health professionals in Ifakara, Morogoro region, Tanzania

  • Theophilus Gbednet Kureh Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 175, Ifakara, Tanzania.
  • Jacquiline Mkisa Frugence Tanzania Medicines and Medical Device Agency, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • Jacquiline Liseki Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 175, Ifakara, Tanzania
  • Ebenezer Abimbola Morolahun Department of Physiology, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 175, Ifakara, Tanzania.
  • Witness Lubomba Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 175, Ifakara, Tanzania.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.379
Keywords: Alcohol, Addiction, Drinking, AUD, AUDIT

Abstract

Aims

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, drinking attitude, knowledge of standard drinks and health risks associated with alcohol consumption among health science students in Ifakara town, Morogoro region in Tanzania.

Design

This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted between June and October 2020 among 372 medicine and allied health students. Participants were selected from the study institutions using random sampling. Results were presented by descriptive statistics, chi- square (χ2) test for associations and logistics regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence (CI) for alcohol use disorder among participants.

Results

The prevalence of alcohol consumption is 39.2% with males accounting a higher prevalence among drinkers (63.7%). Ages 21-25 accounted for the highest drinking prevalence (65.8% of drinkers). There were associations between drinking and gender (p=0.002), institution of study (p=0.000) and course of study (p=0.000). Ever drinkers were about 41% of respondents. The median age of first consumption is 20.0 (IQR: 17-22). The prevalence rates of AUD (AUDIT score greater than 8) is 16.4%. Women were significantly less likely than men to report AUD (OR=0.22, 95% CI (0.11-0.47), p<0.05). Over 60% of participants did not know the number of standard drinks in commonly sold alcoholic beverages in Tanzania.

Conclusion

The prevalence of alcohol consumption and hazardous drinking is high among health sciences students. There is also a poor knowledge of standard drinks and recommended drinking limits.

Published
2022-12-30
How to Cite
Kureh, T. G., Frugence, J. M., Liseki, J., Morolahun, E. A., & Lubomba, W. (2022). Problematic alcohol consumption, knowledge of recommended drinking limits, drinks, and health risks among future health professionals in Ifakara, Morogoro region, Tanzania. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 10(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.379
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2022)
Section
Article

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