Estimating Alcohol Content of Traditional Brew in Western Kenya Using Culturally Relevant Methods: The Case for Cost Over Volume
Loading...
Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AIDS Behave
Abstract
Abstract
Traditional homemade brew is believed to represent the highest proportion of alcohol use in sub-
Saharan Africa. In Eldoret, Kenya, two types of brew are common: chang’aa, spirits, and busaa,
maize beer. Local residents refer to the amount of brew consumed by the amount of money spent,
suggesting a culturally relevant estimation method. The purposes of this study were to analyze
ethanol content of chang’aa and busaa; and to compare two methods of alcohol estimation: use by
cost, and use by volume, the latter the current international standard. Laboratory results showed
mean ethanol content was 34% (SD = 14%) for chang’aa and 4% (SD = 1%) for busaa. Standard
drink unit equivalents for chang’aa and busaa, respectively, were 2 and 1.3 (US) and 3.5 and 2.3
(Great Britain). Using a computational approach, both methods demonstrated comparable results.
We conclude that cost estimation of alcohol content is more culturally relevant and does not differ
in accuracy from the international standard
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Alcohol, Traditional brew, HIV, Kenya, Cognitive behavioral treatment
Citation
Papas, Rebecca K.,John E. Sidle., Wamalwa, Emmanuel S., Okumu, Thomas O., Bryant, Kendall L., Goulet, Joseph L., Maisto, Stephen A., Braithwaite, R. Scott & Justice, Amy C.,