Hazardous Alcohol Drinking and Associated Factors Among Patients With Tuberculosis Attending Public Healthcare Facilities in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Abstract Background: Hazardous drinking is a quantity or pattern of alcohol consumption that places individuals at risk for adverse health events. Studies have shown that hazardous alcohol drinking among patients with tuberculosis has been often linked to a decrease in immune system functioning, greater rates of treatment-resistant cases and death during treatment. However, there are rare studies that assessed the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of hazardous alcohol drinking and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis attending public healthcare facilities in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 415 patients with tuberculosis. The study was conducted at the tuberculosis units of public healthcare facilities in Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. The Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT) scale was used to measure hazardous alcohol drinking. Data on social support, perceived tuberculosis stigma, and depression were collected using a standard, validated, and structured questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of hazardous alcohol drinking in our study was 20 % (95% CI; 16.1% -24.2%). Medical comorbidity (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.29–4.62), length of illness (>=12 months) (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.03–3.04), and being male (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.17–3.77) were found to be significant predictors of hazardous alcohol drinking after controlling for potential confounders.Conclusion: A high prevalence of hazardous alcohol drinking was observed among patients with tuberculosis. Therefore, routine screening for alcohol use and a holistic treatment approach for patients with tuberculosis are crucial.