Validating alcohol use measures among male drinkers in Goa: implications for research on alcohol, sexual risk, and HIV in India

AIDS Behav. 2010 Aug;14 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S84-93. doi: 10.1007/s10461-010-9734-8.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / trends
  • Alcoholic Beverages / analysis*
  • Alcoholic Beverages / standards
  • Ethanol / analysis*
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Research / standards*
  • Risk-Taking
  • Rural Population
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urban Population
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ethanol