title: Alcohol Use-Related Problems Among a Rural Indian Population of West Bengal: An Application of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine alcohol use and related problems among a rural subset of the Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used as part of Health and Demographic Surveillance of 36,611 individuals aged ≥18 years. From this survey data on 3671 current alcohol users were analysed using bivariate and multivariate ordered logit regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 19% of males and 2.4% of females were current alcohol users. Mean ethanol consumption on a typical drinking day among males was estimated to be higher (96.3 gm) than females (56.5 gm). Mean AUDIT score was 11 among current alcohol users. AUDIT showed in the ordered logit regression estimated alcohol use-related problems to be low among women, Scheduled Tribes and unmarried people, whereas alcohol use-related problems registered high among Muslims.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This rural population appears to be in need of an effective intervention program, perhaps targeting men and the household, aimed at reducing the level of alcohol use and related problems.
authors: Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri, Birbhum 731101, West Bengal, India Chest Clinic, District Hospital of Birbhum, Suri, Birbhum 731101, West Bengal, India.
authors: Anamitra
authors: A
authors: Barik
authors: Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri, Birbhum 731101, West Bengal, India rajesh.iips28@gmail.com.
authors: Rajesh Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Rai
authors: Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance, Suri, Birbhum 731101, West Bengal, India Department of Hepatology, School of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), 244, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata 700 020, India.
authors: Abhijit
authors: A
authors: Chowdhury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult