Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol Intake In a Rural Block of Haryana, India.

ABSTRACT

Alcohol consumption is today’s major public health concern in our country, which can be largely reduced solely by primordial and primary prevention. According to NFHS III, 31.9% of men and 2.2% of women drink alcohol in India. Aims & objectives: To determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol intake among the rural community of block Beri, district Jhajjar, Haryana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the period of September 2012 to August 2013. Multistage random sampling was used in this study. From each selected PHC, two subcentres were randomly selected and from each subcentre area, two anganwadis were also selected by simple random sampling technique. Hence a total of 6 sub-health centres and 12 anganwadis were included in the study. From each anganwadi, 90 individuals of 15-64 years age group who were further subdivided into 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years age-group were selected and interviewed. Thus, a sample size of 1080 was included in the study Appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of ever alcohol intake was found 25.7% (Males49.1%; Females 2.4%). The prevalence of current alcohol intake was found to be 18.8% (Males 36.9%; Females 0.7%). Conclusion: Our study confirmed the high burden of alcohol intake in rural areas and reiterated the need to address these issues comprehensively as a part of NCD prevention and control strategy.