The relationship between alcohol purchasing, rurality, and poverty status in Zambia

The Zambian alcohol industry continues to facilitate increasing alcohol purchasing and consumption despite high rates of poverty. Data from the 2006 and 2015 Living Conditions Monitoring Surveys were analyzed to examine relationships between selfreported poverty status, alcohol purchasing, and alcohol expenditure stratified by rural-urban status. Across all poverty levels in 2006 and among the  moderately poor in 2015, rural households purchased alcohol at similar or greater levels compared to urban households. Overall alcohol purchasing decreased; however, significant differences in alcohol expenditure from 2006 to 2015 were observed among rural (p = 0.014) and urban (p = 0.009)  drinkers. Research is needed, to better understand driving factors for alcohol use and to provide targeted prevention and treatment programs in rural Zambia

Cross-sectional study of alcohol preferences and expenditures on food insecurity between urban and rural settings in Zambia

This study investigated potential differences in rural and urban alcohol expenditures and the relationship between alcohol and food insecurity. The 2015 Zambia Living Conditions Monitoring Survey was used with a sample of 12,260 households. Bivariate analyses and logistical regression evaluated the differences in rural/urban alcohol preferences and the relationship between alcohol and food insecurity. Traditional brew consumption was found to be significantly higher in rural areas (p<0.001). Rural households with alcohol expenditures had 23 percent lower odds (OR: 0.770, p<0.01) of eating three or more meals a day compared to households without alcohol expenditures. Rural characteristics around alcohol consumption need to be taken into consideration when determining food security and nutrition policies. Alcohol assessments and services should be adapted to rural conditions in Zambia to increase the effectiveness of prevention programs