Arun Kumar Pandey1, Sanjeev Kumar2
BACKGROUND
In the increasing production, distribution, promotion and easy availability of alcohol coupled with the changing values of society has resulted in alcohol-related problems emerging as a major public health concern in India. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that nearly 20-40% of men in the age group of 15 to 60 years consume alcohol regularly or intermittently. Alcohol abuse or alcoholism is said to exist when two or more of the following conditions is present: a person drinks large amounts over a long time period, has difficulty cutting down, acquiring and drinking alcohol takes up a great deal of time, alcohol is strongly desired, usage results in not fulfilling responsibilities, usage results in social problems, usage results in health problems, usage results in risky situations, withdrawal occurs when stopping, and alcohol tolerance has occurred with use. Risky situations include drinking and driving or having unsafe sex among others.1
OBJECTIVES - (1) To find out the prevalence of alcohol abuse among males above 15 years of age. (2) To assess the socio-demographic and other correlates of alcohol abuse.
METHODOLOGY
The study population included adult male population more than 15 years of age. A systemic random sample method was adopted and structured questionnaire was used to collect the desired information.
RESULTS
The prevalence of alcohol abuse was found to be 9.48%. The prevalence was more in nuclear families (10.60%), lower socio-economic status (20%), among illiterate persons (10.48%) and S.C./S.T. (21.11%). There is also an association between food habit and alcohol abuse, the prevalence of alcohol abuse was more in non-vegetarians (10.17%) as comparison to vegetarians.
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the prevalence of alcohol abuse is high among nuclear families, low socioeconomic status, on-vegetarians and illiterate persons.
