A Multi-Country Study of Harms to Children Because of Others' Drinking.
This study aims to ascertain and compare the prevalence and correlates of alcohol-related harms to children cross-nationally.



National and regional sample surveys of randomly selected households included 7,848 carers (4,223 women) from eight countries (Australia, Chile, Ireland, Lao People's Democratic Republic [PDR], Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam). Country response rates ranged from 35% to 99%. Face-to-face or telephone surveys asking about harm from others' drinking to children ages 0-17 years were conducted, including four specific harms: that because of others' drinking in the past year children had been (a) physically hurt, (b) verbally abused, (c) exposed to domestic violence, or (d) left unsupervised.



The prevalence of alcohol-related harms to children varied from a low of 4% in Lao PDR to 14% in Vietnam. Alcohol-related harms to children were reported by a substantial minority of families in most countries, with only Lao PDR and Nigeria reporting significantly lower levels of harm. Alcohol-related harms to children were dispersed sociodemographically and were concentrated in families with heavy drinkers.



Family-level drinking patterns were consistently identified as correlates of harm to children because of others' drinking, whereas sociodemographic factors showed few obvious correlations.
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, (Melbourne Office), Australia.|Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.|School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Anne-Marie
AM
Laslett
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Georgia
G
Rankin
School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.|International Health Policy Program, Bangkok, Thailand.
Orratai
O
Waleewong
School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.|International Health Policy Program, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sarah
S
Callinan
Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanh T M
HT
Hoang
Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
Ramon
R
Florenzano
University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Siri
S
Hettige
University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
Isidore
I
Obot
National Institute of Public Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Latsamy
L
Siengsounthone
Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Uyo, Nigeria.
Akanidomo
A
Ibanga
Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Ann
A
Hope
Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Centralförbundet för Alcohol och Narkotikaupplysning (CAN), Sweden.
Jonas
J
Landberg
Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanh T M
HT
Vu
International Health Policy Program, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thaksaphon
T
Thamarangsi
World Health Organization.
Dag
D
Rekve
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.|Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SORAD), Stockholm University, Sweden.
Robin
R
Room
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult