TITLE:
Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors among Workers in a Wood Industrial Processing Zone in Libreville, 2024
AUTHORS:
Patrice Landimi, Hervé Martial Ekomy, Laurent Irwin Makosso, Franck Léonard Nguema Ezengue, Edgard Brice Ngoungou
KEYWORDS:
Alcohol, Prevalence, Workers, Wood Industry, Gabon
JOURNAL NAME:
Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine,
Vol.14 No.2,
March
27,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine the prevalence and dependence of alcohol consumption within wood industrial processing companies. Population and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted from June 3 to July 31, 2024, within a wood processing industrial zone. A stratified sampling method was used to select 530 workers from 14 companies. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire including the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). Statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info 7.2.6.0 software. Results: A total of 530 workers were enrolled, consisting of 72.6% men and 27.4% women (M/F sex ratio = 2.6). The mean age was 36 ± 7.3 years (range: 17 to 59 years). The average length of service was 3 ± 2.4 years (range: 1 month to 10 years). Manual workers represented the majority of the surveyed population at 94.3%. The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption was 65.8% (n = 349). According to the AUDIT score, 44.7% of workers were low-risk consumers, 27.7% had harmful use, and 13.4% showed signs of dependence. Beer was the most frequently consumed beverage (60.7%). Male gender (OR = 1.6; p = 0.00) and supervisor status (OR = 9.21; p = 0.00) were significantly associated with alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption in the wood industrial processing sector is high, with a significant proportion of excessive consumers. These findings highlight the urgent need to implement workplace addiction prevention programs to improve occupational health and safety.