BackgroundAlcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) among tuberculosis (TB) patients are associated
with nonadherence and poor treatment outcomes. Studies from Tuberculosis
Research Centre (TRC), Chennai have reported that alcoholism has been one of
the major reasons for default and mortality in under the DOTS programme in
South India. Hence, it is planned to conduct a study to estimate prevalence
of alcohol use and AUDs among TB patients attending the corporation health
centres in Chennai, India.MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional cohort study covering 10 corporation zones at
Chennai and it included situational assessment followed by screening of TB
patients by a WHO developed Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT
scale. Four zones were randomly selected and all TB patients treated during
July to September 2009 were screened with AUDIT scale for alcohol
consumption.ResultsOut of 490 patients, 66% were males, 66% were 35 years and
above, 57% were married, 58% were from the low monthly income
group of 8. Age (>35
years), education (less educated), income (
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