Alcohol consumption in early middle-aged Australian women and access to primary healthcare services: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and objectives

This study describes the prevalence of risky alcohol consumption in Australian women aged 40–45 years. It explores the relationship between demographic factors and access to and usage of primary healthcare services.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, Survey 8 (1973–78 cohort). Descriptive statistics and univariate logistic regression were used to assess associations of specific factors with risky alcohol consumption.

Results

Eleven per cent of respondents reported drinking >10 standard drinks per week. These ‘risky alcohol drinkers’ attend general practice as frequently as low-risk drinkers despite perceived poorer health. They reported ‘rarely or never’ seeing the same general practitioner (GP) and described themselves as having ‘poor’ access to a GP that bulk bills.

Discussion
This study provides unique insight into the primary healthcare attendance patterns and health status of early middle-aged Australian women who are ‘risky alcohol drinkers’. They do not consistently see the same GP, which might present challenges in identifying them in primary care.

Keywords

alcohol consumption, primary healthcare, middle-aged women, morbidity

Link to Publisher Version (URL)

https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-01-24-7106

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