Socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol consumption in Argentina: comparative analysis 2009-2013

• Autores: De Santis, Mariana; Carrazana Rivera, Andrea
• Año de publicación: 2019
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: documento de conferencia
• Materia: Alcohol consumption; Binge drinking; Socioeconomic inequality; Argentina
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Fil: De Santis, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.
Fil: De Santis, Mariana. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Económicas, CIECS (UNC-CONICET); Argentina.
Fil: Carrazana Rivera, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.
Research on socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use has been a topic of increasing concern but not sufficiently understood. Traditionally, research about social inequalities in health suggests that individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES) have poorer health than those who belong to higher socioeconomic groups (Dalstra, 2006). In regard to alcohol consumption there is sufficient evidence that is concentrated among more favored individuals. Although lower socioeconomic groups exhibit higher rates of abstinence, heavy drinking is more prevalent among these individuals (Bloomfield et. Al, 2006). Low and middle income countries might present different patterns than developed countries. There is some evidence from Brazil showing that higher socioeconomic status is strongly associated with high risk drinking (Almeida-Filho, 2005). In Chile no socioeconomic gradient was found in heavy episodic drinking (HED), whereas heavy volume drinking is concentrated among higher SES individuals (Peña et al, 2017). There is a lack of enough evidence about SES inequalities in alcohol consumption in Argentina. The present study analyses SES inequalities in alcohol consumption and harmful use of alcohol in Argentina. Using data from National Survey of Risk Factors, waves 2009 and 2013, concentration indices (CI) are calculated for monthly prevalence and HED. The monthly prevalence shows a strong socioeconomic gradient, since the highest income quintile concentrates the biggest proportion of consumers in both periods. It is noticeable that the proportion of consumers in the lowest quintile is significantly higher in 2013 than in 2009. The CI for the total sample in both waves are statistically significant and greater than zero, showing that monthly prevalence is concentrated in higher SES individuals. This result indicates that alcohol is a ?normal good?, since its consumption grows with the per capita household income level. In regard with HED, it increased throughout all age groups and income levels, between the two waves. The highest HED prevalence is found in the 18-34 aged group. In spite the CI for HED for the total sample in both waves are pro-poor, CI for subsamples reveal a different pattern of inequality in 2013 respect 2009: HED is pro-rich among young people aged 18-34 living in larger cities, while CI is still pro-poor for the rest. This result contrasts with Peña et al. 2017, and suggest the convenience of targeted alcohol interventions.
Fil: De Santis, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.
Fil: De Santis, Mariana. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Económicas, CIECS (UNC-CONICET); Argentina.
Fil: Carrazana Rivera, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.
Otras Economía y Negocios