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Systematic review and meta‐analysis: prevalence of alcohol use among young people in eastern A frica
Author(s) -
Francis Joel M.,
Grosskurth Heiner,
Changalucha John,
Kapiga Saidi H.,
Weiss Helen A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12267
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , systematic review , meta analysis , alcohol use disorders identification test , medline , observational study , audit , demography , family medicine , environmental health , poison control , injury prevention , surgery , management , sociology , political science , law , economics
Objective Systematic review and meta‐analysis of published studies of alcohol use among young people (age 15–24 years) in eastern Africa to estimate prevalence of alcohol use and determine the extent of use of standardised screening questionnaires in alcohol studies. Methods Five databases ( MEDLINE , EMBASE , G lobal Health, A frica‐wide, and P syc INFO ) were searched for publications until 30th June 2013. Results were summarised using the guidelines on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses ( PRISMA ) and on quality assessment using the modified quality assessment tool for systematic reviews of observational studies ( QATSO ). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic ( D er S imonian‐ L aird). Results We identified 2785 potentially relevant studies, of which 56 were eligible for inclusion. Only two studies (4%) used the standardised Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test ( AUDIT ) questionnaire, and six studies (13%) used the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye opener ( CAGE ) questionnaire. The reported median prevalence of alcohol use was ever‐use 52% [interquartile range ( IQR ): 20–58%], use in the last month 28% ( IQR : 17–37%), use in the last year 26% ( IQR : 22–32%), and problem drinking as defined by CAGE or AUDIT 15% ( IQR : 3–36%). We observed high heterogeneity between studies, with the highest prevalence of ever use of alcohol among university students (82%; 95% CI : 79–85%) and female sex workers (66%; 95% CI : 58–74%). Current use was most prevalent among male sex workers (69%; 95% CI : 63–75%). Conclusions Reported alcohol use and problem drinking were common among diverse groups of young people in eastern Africa, indicating the urgent need for alcohol‐focused interventions in this population. Few studies have used standardised alcohol screening questionnaires. Epidemiological research to investigate alcohol‐focused interventions in young people should aim to apply such questionnaires that should be validated for use in this population.