title: Alcohol use in South Africa: findings from the first Demographic and Health Survey (1998).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study formed part of the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey, which included questions assessing the extent of alcohol use, risky drinking and alcohol problems among South Africans to obtain up-to-date baseline estimates of consumption and risky drinking and to inform intervention efforts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-stage random sample of 13,826 persons ages 15 or older (59% women) was included in the survey. Alcohol use was assessed through eight questions, including the CAGE questionnaire. Frequency analyses for different age groups, geographic setting, education level, population group and gender were calculated, as were odds ratios for these variables in relation to symptoms of alcohol problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current alcohol consumption was reported by 45% of the men and 17% of the women. White men (71%) were most likely and Asian women (9%) least likely to be current drinkers. Urban residents were more likely than nonurban dwellers to report current drinking. One third of the current drinkers reported risky drinking over weekends, and 28% of the men and 10% of the women scored above the cutoff level on the CAGE questionnaire. Symptoms of alcohol problems were significantly associated with lower socioeconomic status, no school education in women and being older than 25 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comprehensive strategy is required to address the high levels of risky drinking and reported symptoms of alcohol problems.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. cparry@mrc.ac.za
authors.forename: Charles D H
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plüddemann
authors.forename: Krisela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laubscher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa