Alcohol Use Among Homeless Men in Tehran, Iran: Risk and Protective Factors

Autor: Mehdi Basakha, Sara Makki Alamdari, Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni, Sajjad Sajjadi, Seyed Hossein Mohaqeqi Kamal
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 13
ISSN: 1735-9287
1735-8639
Popis: Background: Alcohol use is one of the most complicated health problems. The understanding of risk and protective factors contributing to alcohol use could help deal with this problem more efficiently. Objectives: The present study examined the risk and protective factors for alcohol use among homeless men living in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2015. A total of 193 homeless men were recruited using convenience sampling from Khavaran Shelter, the largest shelter for homeless people, in the south of Tehran. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model to examine if using alcohol is associated with potential risk and protective factors. Conducting logistic regression, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) point estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) as the effect measures were reported. All tests were run using SPSS version 21. Results: The prevalence rates of recent (past 7 days)‏ and past-year alcohol use were 14.5% (95% CI: 9.50, 19.50) and 43.52% (95% CI: 36.50, 50.50), respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ2 (4) = 10.37, P = 0.17) indicated the goodness of fit of the model to the data. The results of the fitted logistic regression model explained that social support (OR = 0.63, CI 95%: 0.36-1.08) and being a local resident (OR = 0.32, CI 95%: 0.17 - 0.61) were the protective factors while the level of relationship with peer network (OR = 2.08, CI 95%: 1.19 - 3.63) and having a history of arrest (OR = 3.16, CI 95%: 1.34 - 7.46) were risk factors of alcohol use among Iranian homeless men during the last year. The predictors entered into the regression model could explain between 13% and 17.5% of the variance of the outcome (alcohol use). Conclusions: This study contributes to the existing literature by examining risk and protective factors among a high-risk population. Our findings can be used in designing and implementing interventions that are more effective for the homeless group living in a non-Western context.
Databáze: OpenAIRE