Medwave (Jan 2013)
Alcoholism and risk factors: a cross-sectional study in Cumanayagua, Cuba
Abstract
Introduction. Alcohol is the most consumed drug in the world. It is estimated that there are 40 million alcoholics in Latin America, who in addition to their condition, must also face impoverished health care systems. Cuba implemented an Alcoholism Control Program in primary care. Purpose. To identify the risk factors that are associated most frequently with alcoholism. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Popular Council of Cuatro Vientos in Cumanayagua, Cuba. The Diagnostic Indicators Questionnaire and CAGE, the family perception test and a questionnaire that was validated for the study, were applied. The universe studied were 77 male patients older than 15, and who were registered alcoholics in the Popular Council of Cuatro Vientos. Results. Most alcoholics (58.25%) were 35 or older, 77.6% did not acknowledge their condition, 53.7% reported having a father with a drinking problem at home, and 58.6% of the families with an alcoholic member were disfunctional. Work-place problems were present in 46.3% of the cases and 47.8% referred not having any problems with law enforcement authorities. Conclusion. We found that most of the responders develop the condition after age 35. More than a third are not aware of the critical state of their morbidity and a similar percentage lives in disfunctional families. A large number of alcoholic patients have personal, social and/or judicial problems.
