"A Man Never Cries": A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Gender Differences in Depression and Alcohol Use in Moshi, Tanzania.

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use negatively impacts many components of health and wellness, including mental health conditions like major depressive disorder (MDD). Globally, gender differences are common for both alcohol use behaviors and MDD, but these differences have not been studied within Moshi, Tanzania. To provide more effective and culturally appropriate mental health treatments, gender nuances around these conditions must be known. As such, this study aims to explore gender differences in MDD, alcohol use, and other aspects of mental well-being among patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi. Methods: Six hundred and seventy-six patients presenting for care at the KCMC Emergency Department (ED) and Reproductive Health Centre (RHC) were enrolled in this mixed-methods study between October 2021 and May 2022. Patients were selected through systematic random sampling and completed quantitative surveys including the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Nineteen patients were purposively chosen from the study population to participate in in-depth interviews (IDIs) exploring topics related to alcohol use, gender, and depression. Descriptive frequencies, univariate log-binomial regressions, and a linear regression model were used to analyze quantitative data, all of which were analyzed in RStudio. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze all IDIs in NVivo. Results: Average [SD] PHQ-9 scores were 7.22 [5.07] for ED women, 4.91 [4.11] for RHC women, and 3.75 [4.38] among ED men. Similarly, ED women held the highest prevalence of MDD (25%) as compared to RHC women (11%) and ED men (7.9%) (p<0.001). Depressive symptoms were associated with higher AUDIT scores only for ED men (R2 = 0.11, p<0.001). Our qualitative analysis showed that while present for women, social support networks were notably absent for men in Moshi, the lack of which was seen to play a role in alcohol use. For men, alcohol was described as a coping mechanism for stress. Conclusion: Intersectionality of gender, alcohol use, and depression is influenced by sociocultural and behavioral norms in Moshi. As such, multi-layered, gender-differentiated programming should be considered for the treatment of substance use and mental health conditions in this region.

A mixed-methods comparison of gender differences in alcohol consumption and drinking characteristics among patients in Moshi, Tanzania.

Excessive alcohol use stands as a serious threat to individual and community well-being, having been linked to a wide array of physical, social, mental, and economic harms. Alcohol consumption differs by gender, a trend seen both globally and in Moshi, Tanzania, a region with especially high rates of intake and few resources for alcohol-related care. To develop effective gender-appropriate treatment interventions, differences in drinking behaviors between men and women must be better understood. Our study aims to identify and explore gender-based discrepancies in alcohol consumption among Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) patients. A systematic random sampling of adult patients presenting to KCMC's Emergency Department (ED) or Reproductive Health Center (RHC) was conducted from October 2021 until May 2022. Patients answered demographic and alcohol use-related questions and completed brief surveys, including the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Through purposeful sampling, 19 individuals also participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) that focused on identifying gender differences in alcohol use. Quantitative data was analyzed in RStudio through descriptive frequencies, proportions, ANOVA, and Chi-squared tests, while IDIs were analyzed in Nvivo following a grounded theory approach. During the 8-month data collection timeline, 676 patients were enrolled. Men and women patients at KCMC's ED and RHC were found to have significant differences in their alcohol use behaviors. For our quantitative data, this included lower average AUDIT scores among women (average [SD] AUDIT scores were 6.76 [8.16] among ED men, 3.07 [4.76] among ED women, and 1.86 [3.46] among RHC women). A subsequent IDI analysis revealed greater social restrictions around women's drinking and more secretive alcohol use behaviors for where and when women would drink. For men, excess drinking was normalized within Moshi, tied to men's social interactions with other men, and generally motivated by stress, social pressure, and despair over lack of opportunity. Significant gender differences in drinking behaviors were found, primarily influenced by sociocultural norms. These dissimilarities in alcohol use suggest that future alcohol-related programs should incorporate gender in their conceptualization and implementation.

A Mixed-Methods Comparison of Gender Differences in Alcohol Consumption and Drinking Characteristics among Patients in Moshi, Tanzania.

Background: Excessive alcohol use stands as a serious threat to individual and community well-being, having been linked to a wide array of physical, social, mental, and economic harms. Alcohol consumption differs by gender, a trend seen both globally and in Moshi, Tanzania, a region with especially high rates of intake and few resources for alcohol-related care. To develop effective gender-appropriate treatment interventions, differences in drinking behaviors between men and women must be better understood. Our study aims to identify and explore gender-based discrepancies in alcohol consumption among Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) patients. Methods: A systematic random sampling of adult patients presenting to KCMC's Emergency Department (ED) or Reproductive Health Center (RHC) was conducted from October 2020 until May 2021. Patients answered demographic and alcohol use-related questions and completed brief surveys including the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Through purposeful sampling, 19 subjects also participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) focused on identifying gender differences in alcohol use. Results: During the 8-month data collection timeline, 655 patients were enrolled. Men and women patients at KCMC's ED and RHC were found to have significant differences in their alcohol use behaviors including lower rates of consumption among women, (average [SD] AUDIT scores were 6.76 [8.16] among ED men, 3.07 [4.76] among ED women, and 1.86 [3.46] among RHC women), greater social restrictions around women's drinking, and more secretive alcohol use behaviors for where and when women would drink. For men, excess drinking was normalized within Moshi, tied to men's social interactions with other men, and generally motivated by stress, social pressure, and despair over lack of opportunity. Conclusion: Significant gender differences in drinking behaviors were found, primarily influenced by sociocultural norms. These dissimilarities in alcohol use suggest that future alcohol-related programs should incorporate gender in their conceptualization and implementation.