Alcohol Use and its Associated Factors among Residents of an Urban Community in Plateau State Nigeria

I Hassan, Tolulope O Afolaranmi,Onen A Eno , Ishaya O Kezia , Drambi P Buhari, Amina Mohammed, Moses P Chingle

Background:According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol use contributes about 2.3 million deaths globally and accounts for 3.8% of global mortality. Nigeria ranks as the leading country in alcohol consumption in Africa. In view of this, this study was conducted to assess the level of alcohol use and its associated factors among residents of an urban community in Plateau state, Nigeria.Methodology: A cross sectional study carried out among 212 adult residents of AngwanRukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State using quantitative method of data collection. Epi info statistical software version 7.0 was used for data analysis with adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervalused in the study while a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: The average age of the respondents in this study was 28.2±10.4 years with majority being 30 years and below. More of the respondents 142(60.8%) were current consumers of alcoholic drinks with harmful level of alcohol intake found to be 32.0%.Sex, quantity of drinks adjudged as normal in one sitting and age of onset of alcohol use were found to significantly predict harmful intake of alcohol containing drinks in the study.Conclusion: A relatively high level of alcohol use was found in this study with a corresponding level of harmful use. Sex, age of onset of alcohol use and quantity of drinks adjudged as normal in a sitting were significant contributors to harmful alcohol use.