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Monday, February 1, 2010

Prevalence and Determinants of Binge Drinking in Middle Age in a Transitional Post-communist Country: A Population-based Study in Tirana, Albania


To assess the prevalence and determinants of binge drinking in the middle-age population of transitional post-communist Albania, for which data were previously unavailable.

 Age-standardized to the 2005 census, 9.2% and 10.3% of men reported two to three or more annual episodes of drunkenness and hangovers, respectively. In women, the prevalence of both these markers of binging was 1.4% . Among men, 8.9% ( reported drinking ≥60 g alcohol per session. In multivariable-adjusted models in men, binge drinking was related to low educational level, financial loss in the pyramid collapse and religiosity (inversely) in both Muslims and Christians

Among men in this transitional Southeast European country, social disadvantage and financial stress appear to promote alcohol abuse (which is rare in women), and traditionalism may be protective.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: Genc.Burazeri@INTHEALTH.unimaas.nl
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