Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Associated Factors in Ekiti State, Nigeria: a State-wide, Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: The study aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and factors associated with alcohol use among adults in Ekiti State. Subjects and Methods: The survey was a cross-sectional, household-based, using a four- stage, multistage sampling technique. Using the Geographic Information System, 5000 adults were selected and interviewed using the WHO STEPS Instrument on mobile tablets and Open Data Kit (ODK). Results: More than 50 % of the 4894 participants recruited for the study were between the ages of 18 and 44 years. About three-quarters of the participants were females (74.1 %). Approximately 24 % of the respondents reported ever taking alcohol, with men accounting for a higher proportion of lifetime and current use (52.1 % and 38.5 %, respectively) than women (14.1 % and 7.2 %, respectively). Daily consumption was higher among males (7.6 %) compared to females (3.9 %). In comparison to women, more than 10 percent of men admitted to abandoning their social responsibilities due to alcohol consumption. The prevalence of early morning alcohol consumption is much higher among men (13.3 %) than among women (1.9 %). About 2.2 % of respondents quit alcohol consumption for health reasons, with men being more likely to do so than women (6.7 % versus 1.2 %, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of alcohol use is high in Ekiti state, particularly among males. Men are also more likely to consume alcohol daily, in larger quantities, and are more likely to stop alcohol consumption due to health issues.