Authors: Clausen, Thomas; Rossow, Ingeborg¹; Naidoo, Nirmala²; Kowal, Paul²

Source: Addiction, Volume 104, Number 7, July 2009 , pp. 1147-1154(8)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Aims 

This paper describes drinking patterns in 20 African countries, exploring the extent of abstention, heavy occasional drinking and daily light drinking and how these aspects of drinking are inter-related. Design and participants 

Data were collected as part of the World Health Survey in 2002-04 and comprise national representative data sets from 20 African countries. A cross-sectional survey of 77 165 adults aged 18 years and older were undertaken by face-to-face interviews in respondent households. Measures 

Drinking behaviour was assessed in terms of life-time abstention and the following measures over the 7 days immediately preceding interview: high consumption (15 or more drinks); heavy drinking occasions (five or more standard units at at least one session) and daily light drinking (one or two drinks daily). Findings 

In four countries (Comoros, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal), virtually all respondents were life-time abstainers. The prevalence of current drinkers (previous week) did not exceed one-third in any country. Among current drinkers the prevalence of heavy drinking varied between 7% and 77% and the prevalence of daily light drinkers varied between 0% and 21%. Overall drinking patterns varied significantly between and within the examined African countries. Conclusions 

African drinking patterns are diverse, and although life-time abstinence dominates in African countries, a single typical pattern of drinking for the African continent, such as the alleged `all-or-none' pattern, was not observed.

Keywords: Africa; alcohol; diversity; patterns; abstinence

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02559.x

Affiliations: 1: Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIRUS), Oslo, Norway and 2: Department of Health Statistics and Informatics, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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