Prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption among males attending primary health care setting using AUDIT in rural Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

Background: Alcohol consumption is one of the public health problems in India which acts as major attributable risk factor for majority of morbidity and mortality among adults. The objectives of the study were to find out the prevalence of alcohol consumption and its associated factors in rural area by using a WHO tool, AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) and to identify extent and pattern of alcohol consumption.Methods: This study was cross-sectional study. Three hundred sixty four male patients ≥15 years of age, attending OPD in a primary health care setting were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire and AUDIT.Results: The overall prevalence of ever consumed alcohol was found to be 49.7%; of which 38.2% were current drinkers and 11.5% were former drinkers while rest 50.3% were life time abstainers. Educational status, occupation, tobacco use and positive family history were significantly associated with alcohol consumption; while type and size of family, socioeconomic status were found insignificant association. About 53.9% preferred country-made liquor while 23.8% Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). Enjoyment (45.3%), relaxation or stress buster or social cause (29.5%), peer pressure (25.2%) being the reasons for alcohol consumption. In 33% of consumers, daily drinking and in 36% consumers, 1-5 times per week frequency for alcohol drinking was seen respectively. Three fourth of them purchased alcohol from local shops. Out of 364 subjects 75% belongs to AUDIT score of low risk, 11.2% with alcohol use in excess of low risk, 3.6% with harmful and hazardous drinking and 10.2% with dependent drinking.Conclusions: In our study, alcoholism is found to be more common among illiterates, non-formers, among tobacco users and those having positive family history. Socio economic status and age is not the bar for alcohol consumption.