Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with alcohol consumption among Thai people by gender using the social determinants of health theoretical framework.
Method: Participants were Thai people aged 15 years or older. A total of 25,758 Thai people were selected through a stratified random sampling method. The study was a secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional study using the data from the Thailand Smoking and Drinking Behavior Survey 2014.
Results: Thai people were regular drinkers (13.69%). Regarding gender, 26.54% of men and 2.72% of women were regular drinkers. The risk factors for regular drinking among Thai men included family members and close friends consuming alcohol, being aged 25-44 years, living in Northern Thailand, being a skilled or unskilled worker, smoking, and income of 10,001-30,000 Thai baht/month (31 Thai Baht (THB)/U.S. dollars). Protective factors against alcohol consumption were living in Southern Thailand and being unemployed/a student. For women, the risk factors for regular drinking were family members and close friends drinking as well as smoking. Being married, living in a nonmunicipal area, holding a diploma or bachelor's degree, and being unemployed/a student were protective factors against alcohol drinking among women.
Factors associated with alcohol consumption among Thai people vary by gender. Therefore, solving the drinking problems should consider both the risk and protective factors for men and women separately.