Alcohol Consumption and Health Consequences among Villagers in Thum Tong Sub-District, Muang Nan District, Nan Province, Thailand

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was to identify and characterize the situation of alcohol consumption among villagers in Thum Tong sub-district, Nan province and its health consequences.  It was also to determine association between socio-demographic factors and alcohol drinking pattern with health consequences.  Three hundred and thirty four respondents in Thum Tong sub-district, villagers aged 18 – 64 years old were included in this study. Respondents were selected using systematic random sampling. Data collection was done by face to face interview questionnaires. Descriptive statistic was applied to describe the alcohol drinking situation. Chi-square and correlation were used to determine association between socio-demographic factors and alcohol drinking patterns with health consequences. The study revealed that male drinkers (74.6%) drank alcoholic beverage than female (58.7). The majority of drinkers were in working aged.  Almost half of them drank white spirit (49.1%) and followed by beer (40.0%). Most of males drank white spirit while females drank beer. Drinkers drank more than standard drinks per occasion. Most drank with friends and drank more during the festival. Half of respondents had negative attitudes towards alcohol drinking. Respondents were predominant hazardous drinkers. Sex, education, occupation, income, the types and frequency of drinking were found to be significantly associated with the intensity of health consequences. Moreover Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores was found to be positively correlated with health consequences scores (p<0.001). In conclusion, drinking alcoholic beverages is found high prevalent among Thum Tong villagers. With a significant proportion drinking at risky levels, significant health consequences are reported.