Patterns of alcohol consumption in young Australian women: socio-demographic factors, health-related behaviours and physical health

Objective: To determine which sociodemographic factors. health-related beha viours and physical health conditions are associated with non-drinking, bin ge drinking and hazardous/harmful drinking in young Australian women. Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the baseline survey of 14, 762 young women (aged 18-23 years) enrolled in the Women's Health Australia study in 1996. Associations between a range of drinking patterns and socio demographic factors, health-related behaviours and health conditions were e xamined. Results: Half the women were 'low intake' drinkers, a third 'rarely drank' and 9% were non-drinkers; however, 70% reported binge drinking with one-qua rter of the binge drinkers doing so at least weekly. Nondrinkers were more likely than drinkers to be married, pregnant, non-smokers, born in non-Engl ish speaking countries, to live in the Northern Territory, and to have lowe r levels of education, employment, and private health insurance. Low intake /binge weekly' drinkers (12%) and 'hazardous/ harmful' drinkers (5%) were m ore likely than 'low risk' drinkers to be unmarried; to live in shared acco mmodation, alone or with their parents; to live in rural or remote areas; t o have ever had any sexually transmitted infection; to be current smokers o r ex-smokers and to have used unhealthy weight-control practices. Conclusions: The results confirm findings from other countries about the im portance of social conditions as determinants of alcohol consumption by you ng women. Implications: Health promotion to reduce young women's alcohol consumption needs to be carefully targeted to take account of their demographies, livin g environments and beliefs.