Validating alcohol use measures among male drinkers in Goa: implications for research on alcohol, sexual risk, and HIV in India.
Assessment of heavy drinking patterns is vital for HIV/AIDs studies in India and developing countries. A population survey in northern Goa included urban and rural male drinkers (n = 743) who completed a new Fractional Graduated Frequencies (F-GF) alcohol patterns measure assessing seven beverage types and drink sizes for the largest daily amount, then drinking frequencies at fractional amounts. The new measure was compared to a simpler quantity-frequency (QF) summary and, in a validity subsample of hazardous drinkers (n = 56), 28-day diaries of drinking events. Approximately 56% of total volume came from peak drinking (averaging 60 g ethanol/day). For AUDIT-based Hazardous Drinkers, QF and F-GF volumes (drinks/day) were not significantly different from diary volume (correlations 0.65 and 0.57, respectively). F-GF well captured the profile of daily amounts in drinking event data. In addition, the F-GF showed evidence of better predicting any sexual risk behavior or partner violence perpetration than the QF measure. Summary drinking pattern measures, especially the new F-GF, are more cost efficient than intensive event records, and appear valid when carefully assessing quantities with local beverage types and drink ethanol content.
Greenfield
Thomas K
TK
Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6475 Christie Ave, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. tgreenfield@arg.org
Nayak
Madhabika B
MB
Bond
Jason
J
Patel
Vikram
V
Trocki
Karen
K
Pillai
Aravind
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000639:trends; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
D000431:Ethanol