International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research

Alcohol surveys in Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Tanzania: Different methods, settings, patterns and harms

Neo Morojele, Anne-Marie Laslett — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

The 2021 Alcohol’s Harm to Others Survey: Methodological Approach

Jade Rintala, Robin Room, Koen Smit, Heng Jiang, Anne-Marie Laslett — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Abstract

Background

The 2021 Alcohol's Harm to Others (AHTO) is a comprehensive survey measuring the prevalence of different harms due to another’s drinking in the Australian population. First implemented in 2008, the AHTO survey has since been adapted to reflect changes in modern survey research and to be comparable with international AHTO surveys.

Aims

The current paper aims to provide a detailed account of the 2021 Australian Alcohol's Harm to Others (AHTO) survey, including the procedures for sampling, data collection, weighting, response rate calculation and results from a mode analysis.

Methodology

The 2021 AHTO survey was conducted by the Social Research Centre (SRC), whereby 1,000 participants were recruited through Random Digit Dial (RDD) and 1,574 through the Life in Australia Panel (LinA). Weights applied to the data to match key respondent demographics to the Australian population and between the two samples. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to probe the extent sample source (RDD; LinA) was associated with various survey outcomes.

Results

Multiple regression analyses found sample source had a statistically significant association with responses on three out of eight outcomes, with sample source contributing 1 – 8% of the overall variance in these models.

Discussion

The current paper highlighted the 2021 AHTO survey’s comprehensiveness and adaptability to a modern research context as its strengths. Yet some limitations were identified relating to the use of bi-modal survey methods. The methodological critiques from the current paper are vital to inform future AHTO surveys used in both a national and international context.

Socio-economic determinants of alcohol consumption for South Africa

Naiefa Rashied — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Aims: To examine the socio-economic factors associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa.

Design: Cross-sectional study exploring the various socio-economic factors associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa.

Setting: South Africans older than 15 years across the country’s nine provinces.

Participants: Adult respondents of the drinking status and alcohol intensity questions in Wave 4 of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) (n=28 401).

Measures: Alcohol, demographic, emotional, health and neighbourhood variables.

Findings: White and Mixed Heritage (referred to as ‘Coloured’ in South Africa) adults were more likely to consume alcohol, while Indian and White adults were less likely to binge drink relative to African adults. Males with a very good self-perceived health were less likely to binge drink while males who resided in neighbourhoods where frequent alcohol and drug abuse was common, were more likely to binge drink. Females who exercised more than three times a week were also more likely to drink and binge drink. Females with a poor self-perceived health status are less likely to binge drink. Adults who smoked were more likely to drink and binge drink relative to non-smoking adults. Accounting for binge drinkers’ household size, average monthly household spending for binge drinkers was low, suggesting that binge drinkers under-reported household alcohol spending. There was evidence of drinking and binge drinking among pregnant women.

Conclusions: With respect to binge drinking, race, gender, smoking, neighbourhood, self-perceived health, pregnancy and household alcohol spending warrant further investigation and consideration for possible future alcohol interventions in South Africa.

A polarisation rather than just an increase or a decrease - Exploring different approaches to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption after one year

Florian Labhart, Gerhard Gmel — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Background

Many studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reported that significant proportions of drinkers have either increased or decreased their consumption. These diverging trends may indicate a polarisation of drinking behaviours, suggesting that the same source of stress caused some people to drink more and others to drink less, among the same segment of the population. This study aims to explore the existence of such a polarisation by using standard statistical methods to assess data on drinking behaviour from March 2021, one year after the onset of the pandemic.

Methods

A representative sample of 2’000 people in Switzerland were asked to retrospectively report their drinking behaviours during the year before the introduction of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2019–March 2020) and during the first year of the pandemic (April 2020–March 2021), as well as multiple aspects of their living conditions.

Results

A polarisation of drinking behaviours was observed among many segments of the populations, particularly among young adults (15-24 years old), those with increased fear of COVID-19 for oneself or for their financial situation, and those who experienced a precarious work situation. Chi-square test and regressions models, using the absolute value of the change in drinking habits, are suitable for measuring polarisation effects.

Conclusions

The polarisation of drinking behaviours occurred in some segments of the population, regardless of their pre-pandemic drinking habits. However, polarisation can only be properly measured when non-linear trends are investigated.

Road traffic injuries and alcohol use in the emergency department in Tanzania: a case-crossover study

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol is the leading risk factor for road traffic injury (RTI). Africa has the second-highest rate of alcohol dependence and the highest road traffic fatality rate. We describe the proportion of Tanzanian emergency department (ED) patients presenting with RTIs who are blood alcohol content (BAC) positive and determine the dose-response relationship between drinking and injury risk.
Methods: Analysis of data from EDs in Tanzania from 2013 to 2014 was performed. Adults presenting to an ED within 6 hours of injury had BAC testing and were asked whether and how much alcohol was consumed prior to the injury. Data also included self-reported alcohol use during control periods 1 day and 1 week prior to the injury. Case-crossover analysis of injury risk used logistic regression to determine matched-pair odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of 513 injury patients, 375 (73%) suffered RTIs. Overall, 29% of RTI patients were BAC-positive. Approximately 40% of those who reported using alcohol prior to RTI reported drinking more than 5 standard drinks. With any alcohol, drivers of both motorcycles and cars/trucks had increased odds of RTI (4.90 OR (CI 2.5-9.5) and 5.70 OR (CI 2.8-11.6) respectively). While the odds of RTI in car/truck drivers demonstrated a dose-dependent response, that in motorcyclists was highest after 3-4 drinks (5.60 OR, CI 2.22-14.10).
Discussion: The RTI burden in Tanzania is high. Any alcohol can increase RTI risk. These findings should guide drunk-driving legislation.

Tackling alcohol-related road traffic injuries is an urgent public health priority in Tanzania and across East Africa

Monica Swahn, Ph.D. — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0800

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