Background: A significant segment of the Latino migrant worker population in the United States is at high risk for alcohol abuse and related risk behaviors. Information about the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse and its association with sociodemographic and psychological variables is needed for designing effective intervention prevention strategies. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from a baseline assessment that was part of a randomized controlled trial of 278 Latino migrant workers (LMWs) conducted between 2008 and 2010. Results: About one-third (32%) of participants engaged in heavy drinking in the past 30 days prior to baseline interview. More females than males reported no alcohol use in the past 30 days (53.5% vs. 20.5%). On the other hand, more males reported drinking every day or nearly (25.2% vs. 7.1%). Five factors-gender, country of origin, relationship status, living arrangements, and acculturation-were significantly associated with frequency of alcohol consumption. Multivariate analyses indicated that gender, country of origin, education attainment, relationship status, living arrangement, living with children, length of stay in the US, religious beliefs, acculturation, and depression were associated with frequent heavy drinking, alcohol abuse/dependence, and unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol. Conclusions: There is significant variation in alcohol use among Latino migrant workers. Although a substantial proportion of this population abstains from alcohol, an equally substantial proportion report levels of alcohol use that pose significant risk. More research is needed to better understand drinking patters in this community in order to design prevention strategies specifically tailored for this population. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Migrant workers prevention Latinos Alcohol use and abuse

depression educational status Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior alcohol consumption human sex difference risk assessment middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal randomized controlled trial unprotected sex alcoholism ethnology religion Hispanic Americans Unsafe Sex Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult migrant worker Florida family cross-sectional study Hispanic Adolescent psychology male Humans Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors female risk factor socioeconomics high risk population cultural factor prevalence Article high risk behavior Family Relations adult migration family relation Sex Factors alcohol abuse alcohol abstinence cohort analysis Transients and Migrants