The Impact of Gender on Alcohol Use: A Mixed Methods Study

Alcohol use is one of the leading risk factors worldwide for death and disability-adjusted life years. The WHO Africa region consumes on average 20% more alcohol per day than the global average, with Tanzania ingesting especially large quantities. However, resources, trained personnel, and services for treating unhealthy alcohol use and users in this region are scarce. Women’s drinking behavior in particular has been historically understudied, and the existing resources in this area have not been equitably accessed and utilized by women. This research seeks to fill this gap in understanding women’s drinking behaviors and the impact of gender on alcohol use, with the long-term goal of informing future women-focused alcohol reduction programs. This is a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study that used quantitative survey responses to guide qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs). The methods and results compiled here are based on preliminary data (300 survey responses and 8 IDIs) as collection is still ongoing at the time of this defense. The results of this thesis have indicated that men and women in Moshi have distinct patterns of alcohol use, an outcome that is mediated by multiple socio-cultural factors and likewise produces unique consequences for each gender. This data indicates that future alcohol-focused programs may need to be differentiated by gender if they are to effectively minimize the burden caused by alcohol in this region.