# Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among High-School Teachers in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

## TL;DR

A study in Ethiopia found that 16% of high school teachers consume alcohol hazardously, with higher rates among men, younger teachers, and those with psychological distress.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on hazardous alcohol consumption among teachers in a low-income country context.

## Key findings

- 16% of high school teachers in Bahir Dar had hazardous alcohol consumption.
- Male teachers and those with psychological distress had significantly higher odds of hazardous drinking.
- Low social support was linked to 3.95 times higher odds of hazardous alcohol consumption.

## Abstract

•A 16% prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption was found among high school teachers in Bahir Dar.•Hazardous alcohol consumption was more prevalent among male, younger, and lower educational status teachers.•Psychological distress was associated with 4.28 times higher odds of hazardous alcohol consumption.•The risk of hazardous alcohol consumption was heightened by low social support.•There is a need to integrate lifestyle and psychosocial interventions into teachers' programs.

A 16% prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption was found among high school teachers in Bahir Dar.

Hazardous alcohol consumption was more prevalent among male, younger, and lower educational status teachers.

Psychological distress was associated with 4.28 times higher odds of hazardous alcohol consumption.

The risk of hazardous alcohol consumption was heightened by low social support.

There is a need to integrate lifestyle and psychosocial interventions into teachers' programs.

Screening teachers for hazardous alcohol consumption is important to designing interventions that promote a conducive teaching–learning environment. However, there is scarce evidence on screening activities among teachers in low-income countries, particularly in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption and associated factors among high-school teachers in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia.

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected 407 teachers. Hazardous alcohol consumption was assessed using the Fast Alcohol Screening Test, with a score ≥3 indicating a positive result. Data were collected electronically using EpiCollect5 through interviewer administration. SPSS (Version 25) was used for data analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out, and variables with a p<0.05 in the final analysis were considered significantly significant.

The prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption was 16% (95% CI=12.40, 19.54): 20.9% among men and 6.1% among women. The odds of hazardous drinking were higher among male participants (AOR=4.46, 95% CI=1.87, 10.60), among teachers aged <41 years (AOR=3.76, 95% CI=1.39, 10.1.5), among first-degree holders than among second-degree holders (AOR=2.72, 95% CI=1.14, 6.49), and among those who screened positive for psychological distress (AOR=4.28, 95% CI=2.15, 8.50). In addition, participant with low social support had 3.95 times higher odds of hazardous alcohol consumption (AOR=3.95, 95% CI=1.49, 10.45).

Hazardous alcohol consumption was high in teachers, particularly when compared with previous literature examining hazardous alcohol consumption in the general population. This refers to integrating lifestyle and other psychosocial interventions in the teachers’ development programs to prevent alcohol consumption, with more emphasis on younger employees, men, those who experience psychological distress, and those who lack close interpersonal relationships.