Gender and age characteristics of alcohol consumption in Belarus, Moldova and Uzbekistan

Objective. To compare the prevalence of alcohol consumption in the Republics of Belarus, Moldova and Uzbekistan, taking into account gender and age.
Materials and methods. Materials and Methods. Using data from STEPS surveys, the Republic of Belarus (2020), the Republic of Moldova (2021), the Republic of Uzbekistan (2019), Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders (WHO, 2024), a comparative analysis of the prevalence of alcohol consumption in the countries depending on gender and age was conducted. Methods – content analysis, statistical analysis. 
Results. Reliable differences in the prevalence of alcohol consumption were found: Belarusians and Moldavians have a higher prevalence of alcohol consumption compared to the residents of Uzbekistan. Alcohol consumption has gender and age differences: in the represented countries the share of male drinkers is higher; there is no decrease in the share of drinking population with age.
Conclusion. When developing national strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases risk factors, gender and age-specific patterns of alcohol consumption should be taken into account. The prevalence of alcohol consumption is not influenced by the model of socio-economic development of the state, as well as the type of health care system functioning in the country. The responsibility of citizens for preserving and strengthening their health is inextricably linked to leading a healthy lifestyle.

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