Social inequalities in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in the study countries of the EU concerted action 'Gender, Culture and Alcohol Problems: a Multi-national Study'.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_D0A1E9F584B5
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Social inequalities in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in the study countries of the EU concerted action 'Gender, Culture and Alcohol Problems: a Multi-national Study'.
Journal
Alcohol and Alcoholism. Supplement
Author(s)
Bloomfield K., Grittner U., Kramer S., Gmel G.
ISSN
0735-0414
Publication state
Published
Issued date
11/2006
Volume
41
Number
1
Pages
i26-i36
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Comparative Study ; Journal Article ; Multicenter Study ; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
AIMS: We investigated the presence of social inequalities of alcohol use and misuse using educational attainment as an indicator of socio-economic status in 15 countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Israel, Brazil, and Mexico.
METHODS: Study surveys were independently conducted and the data centrally analysed. Most samples were national. Survey modes and sample sizes varied. The age range was restricted to between 25 and 59 years of age. Socio-economic status was measured by educational level. Multiple logistic regressions were employed to calculate age-adjusted odds ratios for men and women in each country by educational level for current drinking status, heavy drinking (>or=20 g ethanol per day for women, >or=30 g a day for men), heavy episodic (binge) drinking, and alcohol-related problems (using AUDIT).
RESULTS: Men and women demonstrated similar patterns in inequalities with regard to current drinking status within a country. In Germany, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Austria higher educated women were most likely to drink heavily, while among men the lower educated were more at risk in most countries. For heavy episodic drinking, almost no significant differences were evident among women, but for men a social gradient was observable with lower educated being more at risk in several countries. Among five countries with data from the AUDIT, men of lower education in Finland, Czech Republic, and Hungary had higher risks to report problems. Nordic countries shared a common pattern in social inequalities as did two Latin American countries, while a mixed picture was observed for middle European countries. Social inequalities in the two Latin American countries display a pattern emerging in other research on developing countries: namely that those in the higher educated groups are more likely to consume alcohol in a risky manner.
CONCLUSIONS: Patterns in the distribution of social inequalities are not universal. Social inequalities in alcohol use differ by gender according to alcohol measure used and differ also across groups of countries. These variations should be taken into account when formulating international and cross-cultural alcohol policies.
Keywords
Adult, Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology, Alcohol Drinking/psychology, Alcoholism/epidemiology, Alcoholism/psychology, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Educational Status, Europe/epidemiology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Social Class, Temperance
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
25/01/2008 17:15
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:50
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