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Pattern of alcohol use among drivers of commercial vehicles in Calabar, Nigeria


S Bello
WO Ndifon
EA Mpama
OO Oduwole

Abstract

Objective: Hazardous use of alcohol is a public health problem which accounts for 4.0% of global burden of disease. We investigated the pattern and reasons for alcohol use among drivers of commercial vehicles in Calabar, Nigeria.
Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.
Setting: The study was carried out in 18 of 32 clusters of motor parks in Calabar, Nigeria.
Subjects: Three hundred and sixty drivers of commercial vehicles participated in the study.
Result: The mean age of respondents was 38.5 ± 9.5 years. All respondents were male. More than four-fifth (84.4%) of respondents were alcohol users. About a quarter of respondents were hazardous alcohol users. Beer (76.6%) was the most patronised alcoholic beverage. Most (90.8%) alcohol users drank after work, usually (48.7%) in company of friends. The most commonly mentioned reason for alcohol use was for
pleasure (59.2%).
Conclusion: Market-related interventions and sport-friendly motor parks could be useful in alcohol control.

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