Journal of Occupational Health
Volume 56, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 39-48

Screening for hazardous drinking in migrant workers in southeastern Spain (Article) (Open Access)

Perez-Carceles M.D.* , Medina M.D. , Perez-Flores D. , Noguera J.A. , Pereniguez J.E. , Madrigal M. , Luna A.
  • a Department of Health and Social Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', School of Medicine, University of Murcia, E30100, Spain
  • b Department of Occupational Health, Murcia Health Service, Spain
  • c Department of Biostatistics, University of Murcia, Spain
  • d Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital ''Virgen de la Arrixaca'', Murcia Health Service, Spain
  • e Department of Occupational Health, Murcia Health Service, Spain
  • f Department of Health and Social Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', School of Medicine, University of Murcia, E30100, Spain
  • g Department of Health and Social Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', School of Medicine, University of Murcia, E30100, Spain

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the great impact the migration has had in economic, social and health-related fields, and the repercussions of alcohol consumption on them, few data exist concerning the extent of alcohol consumption in migrant workers. The aims of this study were to identify workers with a hazardous drinking problem by means of a self-reported questionnaire (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-AUDIT) and a biomarker (carbohydrate- deficient transferrin-CDT) and to ascertain associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a random sample of 385 migrant workers, undergoing a routine health examination as part of occupational health services. Results: The results showed that 13.8% (n=53) of the workers were screened as positive with the AUDIT (≥8) and/or CDT (>2.6) and identified as hazardous drinkers and that 53.8% (n=207) were teetotallers. Being a man (OR: 2.0), working in the construction industry (OR: 2.8) or agriculture (OR: 2.2), being resident in Spain for more than 7 years (OR: 2.3) and sharing a house with friends were the factors most closely associated with hazardous drinking. Conclusions: Prevention-orientated programs, adjusted to the characteristics of each country and the origin of the migrants themselves, should be instituted to modify the drinking habits of migrant workers considered at risk.

Author Keywords

Migrant workers Hazardous drinking Carbohydrate-deficient transferring Alcohol use disorders identification test

Index Keywords

Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior mass screening building industry sex ratio human epidemiology Self Report middle aged statistics and numerical data Agriculture construction industry Time Factors Aged Logistic Models ethnology family size procedures Family Characteristics analogs and derivatives transferrin Cross-Sectional Studies carbohydrate-deficient transferrin Young Adult cross-sectional study Occupations Humans classification Adolescent male occupation Spain female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire prevalence blood Questionnaires adult migration biological marker Sex Distribution age distribution statistical model Transients and Migrants Physical Examination Biological Markers time
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84894584040&doi=10.1539%2fjoh.13-0119-OA&partnerID=40&md5=929cd1f6ee1802e9fe96a692df6a3745
DOI: 10.1539/joh.13-0119-OA
ISSN: 13419145
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English