Alcohol Consumption among Samoan Adults in 2010: Patterns, Correlates and Health Implications.

AIMS We aim to describe alcohol consumption and related problems from a nationwide survey in 2010 in Samoa in association with sociodemographic variables as part of an intervention development. METHODS The sample consisted of 3463 adults, 25-65 years of age. Participants self-reported alcohol consumption in the previous 12 months, patterns of drinking and alcohol-related psychosocial problems. Data about age, census region of residence, highest attained education level, employment, marital status, household assets score and current smoking status were gathered. RESULTS More than one-third of men, 36.1%, and 4.1% of women consumed alcohol in the past year. There were greater proportions of alcohol users among younger adults, 4 drinks for women and >5 drinks for men at least once per episode in the prior week. More men than women, 51% versus 26%, felt that alcohol consumption had interfered with their daily life. CONCLUSION Our analyses identified correlates of alcohol consumption and associated problems that can help guide the development of targeted interventions for different sex and age groups to mitigate the social and physiological harms of alcohol misuse.