Alcohol Use among Young Women in Kampala City: Comparing Self-Reported Survey Data with Presence of Urinary Ethyl Glucuronide Metabolite

Monica H. Swahn (), Jane Palmier, Rachel Culbreth, Godfrey S. Bbosa, Charles Natuhamya, Gideon Matovu and Rogers Kasirye
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Monica H. Swahn: Health Promotion and Physical Education, Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Jane Palmier: Health Promotion and Physical Education, Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Rachel Culbreth: Toxicology Investigators Consortium, American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ 85028, USA
Godfrey S. Bbosa: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda
Charles Natuhamya: Uganda Youth Development Link, P.O. Box 12659 Kampala, Uganda
Gideon Matovu: Uganda Youth Development Link, P.O. Box 12659 Kampala, Uganda
Rogers Kasirye: Uganda Youth Development Link, P.O. Box 12659 Kampala, Uganda

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: This study sought to determine the level of concordance between self-reported alcohol use and the presence of its urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) metabolite in women living in urban Kampala. In 2023, we recruited 300 young women, ages 18 to 24 years, to participate in a prospective cohort study across three sites in urban Kampala (i.e., Banda, Bwaise, and Makindye) to examine the mechanistic pathways of mental illness. As part of the baseline assessment, participants were asked to complete a research assistant-administered survey and to provide a urine sample to screen for 16 different substances and/or their metabolites, including EtG. Overall, 58% (n = 174) reported to have ever consumed alcohol and 23% (n = 68) to have used it in the past month. Among the 300 women, 10% (n = 30) had EtG levels in their urine sample and of these, 40% (n = 12) reported to have never consumed alcohol, using a self-reported survey ( p = 0.035). Recent alcohol use was relatively low among the women in this study. However, the discordance between self-reported alcohol use and the presence of EtG presents concerns about the accuracy of self-reported alcohol use. Additional research is needed to contextualize self-reported alcohol use, social desirability, and the implications for alcohol prevention and intervention strategies for young women in urban Kampala.

Keywords: alcohol use; ethyl glucuronide; Uganda; substance use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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