Substance Use among Women Attending Primary Healthcare Community Centers: a Binational Comparison for the Development of Brief Intervention Programs

We lack comparative information on the scope and types of different substances used by women patients of community health centers (CHCs) in high- and medium-income countries, which is fundamental to adapting Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) programs. This study analyzes and compares the prevalence proportions and characteristics related to the substance use of a total of 3623 women patients ages 18 and older, who attended eight CHCs located in the cities of Tijuana, Mexico and Los Angeles (LA), U.S. A gender-sensitive analysis based on the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations’ Predisposing, Enabling and Need (PEN) characteristics and use of substances was performed. Risky substance (tobacco, alcohol and any drug) use was higher in LA than in Tijuana. The PEN analysis was useful for identifying care needs associated with substance use. The results are relevant for the planning of SBIRT programs targeting women patients of CHCs in countries with different income levels.