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Comparison of unsafe drinking between a rural and metropolitan area
Author(s) -
PEACH HEDLEY G.,
BATH NICOLE E.,
FARISH STEPHEN J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239800187661
Subject(s) - binge drinking , environmental health , metropolitan area , logistic regression , rural area , medicine , demography , alcohol consumption , injury prevention , poison control , heavy drinking , odds , young adult , alcohol , gerontology , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , sociology
Factors associated with unsafe drinking in a rural area were identified and the prevalence of unsafe drinking and alcohol related mortality compared with a metropolitan area. Alcohol consumption data were collected from a random sample of adults in Greater Ballarat. Odds ratios of demographic factors associated with unsafe drinking were estimated by logistic regression. Compared with males and 20–29‐year‐olds, females and 30–59‐year‐olds had a significantly lower prevalence of ‘intermediate’ or higher risk drinking and binge‐only drinking. Rural‐metropolitan ratios for the prevalence of unsafe drinking and alcohol related mortality were also greatest in young adults. Young adults must adopt safer drinking habits if the rural excess in mortality is to be reduced.