Concordance of Self‐ and Partner‐Reported Alcohol Consumption Among Couples Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence in Zambia. (20th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kane, Jeremy C.; Murray, Sarah M.; Vinikoor, Michael J.; Greene, M. Claire; Fine, Shoshanna L.; Paul, Ravi; Murray, Laura K.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 43:Number 12(2019)
• Page Start: 2568
• Page End: 2577
• Publication Date: 2019-10-20
• Subjects: sub‐Saharan Africa -- Alcohol -- Intimate Partner Violence -- Measurement -- Social Desirability; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.14205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Hazardous alcohol use is a predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV), and both are increasingly prevalent in sub‐Saharan Africa. The accurate measurement of alcohol consumption is therefore critical in IPV intervention studies that target hazardous drinking. Collecting a collateral report in addition to self‐report is one convergent validity approach to improve alcohol measurement. We investigated concordance between self‐ and partner‐reported alcohol use among women who reported recent IPV and their male partners in Zambia. Methods: Data were from the baseline of a randomized IPV intervention trial of 247 heterosexual couples in which a woman has reported recent IPV and her male partner has recent hazardous alcohol use. Both partners completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in reference to their own drinking and in reference to their partner's drinking. We calculated percent agreement across a range of outcomes: any use, quantity, frequency, and hazardous use. We also compared self‐ and partner‐reported AUDIT scores using t ‐tests. Results: Concordance was poor across most outcomes. Percent agreement with respect to the women's drinking ranged from 60% to 65% across outcomes and with respect to the men's drinking from 51% to 89%. Women's average partner‐reported AUDIT score (20.7) was statistically significantly ( p < 0.0001) higher than men's average self‐reported score (15.8). Conclusions: In contrast to collateral report studies conducted in the United States, concordance between self‐ and partner‐reported alcohol consumption was poor among families experiencing IPV in Zambia. Given the possible biases associated with self‐reported alcohol use, findings suggest that a convergent validity approach is useful in this research context. Abstract : In contrast to collateral report studies conducted in the U.S., concordance between self‐ and partner‐reported alcohol consumption was poor among families experiencing IPV in Zambia. Given the possible biases associated with self‐reported alcohol use, findings suggest that a convergent validity approach is useful in this research context, including the use of biomarkers when possible.