Alcohol abuse and dependence in an urban primary care clinic in Nigeria.
A two-stage epidemiological survey was conducted in an urban walk-in clinic in Nigeria to detect, among other disorders, the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence using DMS-IIIR criteria. At the first stage, respondents were administered the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A proportion of the respondents were selected for detailed interview at the second stage using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). An estimated 1.7% of this sample met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. All the identified cases were males, thus giving an estimated prevalence of 5.2% in males. In this setting, the AUDIT performed poorly as a screening instrument. It has a sensitivity of 32% but a specificity of 93%. Apart from reasons relating to the low base rates of the disorders under investigation, cultural factors influencing the ways alcohol use are perceived may explain this poor performance.
Gureje
O
O
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Obikoya
B
B
Ikuesan
B A
BA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014505:Urban Population