Cross-sectional surveys of financial harm associated with others' drinking in 15 countries: Unequal effects on women?

Abstract

Introduction and aims: That physical, emotional and social problems occur not only to drinkers, but also to others they connect with, is increasingly acknowledged. Financial harms from others' drinking have been seldom studied at the population level, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Whether financial harm and costs from others' drinking inequitably affect women is little known. The study's aim is to compare estimates and correlates of alcohol's financial harm to others than the drinker in 15 countries.

Methods and materials: Cross-sectional surveys of Alcohol's Harm To Others (AHTO) were conducted in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, India, Ireland, Lao PDR, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Participants: 17,670 men and 20,947 women.

Measurement: The prevalence of financial harm in the last year was assessed as financial trouble and/or less money available for household expenses because of someone else's drinking.

Analysis: Meta-analysis and country-level logistic regression of financial harm (vs. none), adjusted for gender, age, education, rurality and participant drinking.

Results: Under 3.2 % of respondents in most high-income countries reported financial harm due to others' drinking, whereas 12-22 % did in Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. Financial harm from others' drinking was significantly more common among women than men in nine countries. Among men and women, financial harm was significantly more prevalent in low- and middle- than in high-income countries.

Conclusions: Reports of financial harm from others' drinking are more common among women than among men, and in low- and middle-income than in high-income countries.

Keywords: Alcohol; Cross-Sectional surveys; Financial harm; Gender and socioeconomic inequities; Harm to others; International comparisons.