Ali Nikfarjam - Emergency Medical Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Saiedeh Hajimaghsoudi - HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Azam Rastegari - HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Ali Akbar Haghdoost - HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abbas Ali Nasehi - Iran Helal Institute of Applied-Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
Nadereh Memaryan - Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Terme Tarjoman - Department of Community Medicine, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Baneshi - Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Background In Islamic countries alcohol consumption is considered as against religious values. Therefore, estimation of frequency of alcohol consumptions using direct methods is prone to different biases. In this study, we indirectly estimated the frequency of alcohol use in Iran, in network of a representative sample using network scale up (NSU) method.   Methods In a national survey, about ۴۰۰ participants aged above ۱۸ at each province, around ۱۲ ۰۰۰ in total, were recruited. In a gender-match face to face interview, respondents were asked about the number of those who used alcohol (even one episode) in previous year in their active social network, classified by age and gender. The results were corrected for the level of visibility of alcohol consumption.   Results The relative frequency of alcohol use at least once in previous year, among general population aged above ۱۵, was estimated at ۲.۳۱% (۹۵% CI: ۲.۱۲%, ۲.۵۳%). The relative frequency among males was about ۸ times higher than females (۴.۱۳% versus ۰.۵۶%). The relative frequency among those aged ۱۸ to ۳۰ was ۳ times higher than those aged above ۳۰ (۳.۹۷% versus ۱.۳۶%). The relative frequency among male aged ۱۸ to ۳۰ was about ۷%.   Conclusion It seems that the NSU is a feasible method to monitor the relative frequency of alcohol use in Iran, and possibly in countries with similar culture. Alcohol use was lower than non-Muslim countries, however, its relative frequency, in particular in young males, was noticeable.

Alcohol, Abuse, Network Scale Up (NSU), Iran