Adaptation and validation of a Rwanda-focused version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).

Abstract

In Rwanda, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is estimated to affect 7% of the population. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is an excellent screening instrument for AUD, but a Rwanda-focused version previously was unavailable. Our objective was to develop a Rwanda- focused AUDIT and evaluate its psychometric properties. The English AUDIT was adapted to the Rwandan language through translation and back- translation by a panel of native English and Kinyarwanda speakers. Random sampling was used to recruit participants from the emergency department, outpatient clinics, and inpatient wards at a tertiary care center in Rwanda, excluding those 50 years-old. Factor loading for the AUDIT CFA model was between 0.62 and 0.96 for all items. Model fit indices included χ2 of 0.90, and CFI > 0.95. In this context, χ2 should ideally be > 0.05, however a relatively large sample, such as ours, tends to depress the number. All reliability statistics were above 0.90, indicating strong internal consistency. These findings support the reliability of this screening instrument. Further research should focus on the development of brief interventions for those who screen positive.