%0 Journal Article %J AIDS and behavior %D 2010 %T Estimating alcohol content of traditional brew in Western Kenya using culturally relevant methods: the case for cost over volume. %A Papas, Rebecca K %A Sidle, John E %A Wamalwa, Emmanuel S %A Okumu, Thomas O %A Bryant, Kendall L %A Goulet, Joseph L %A Maisto, Stephen A %A Braithwaite, R Scott %A Justice, Amy C %K Alcohol Drinking %K Alcoholic Beverages %K Costs and Cost Analysis %K Culture %K Ethanol %K Humans %K International System of Units %K Kenya %N 4 %P 836-44 %V 14 %X Traditional homemade brew is believed to represent the highest proportion of alcohol use in sub-Saharan Africa. In Eldoret, Kenya, two types of brew are common: chang'aa, spirits, and busaa, maize beer. Local residents refer to the amount of brew consumed by the amount of money spent, suggesting a culturally relevant estimation method. The purposes of this study were to analyze ethanol content of chang'aa and busaa; and to compare two methods of alcohol estimation: use by cost, and use by volume, the latter the current international standard. Laboratory results showed mean ethanol content was 34% (SD = 14%) for chang'aa and 4% (SD = 1%) for busaa. Standard drink unit equivalents for chang'aa and busaa, respectively, were 2 and 1.3 (US) and 3.5 and 2.3 (Great Britain). Using a computational approach, both methods demonstrated comparable results. We conclude that cost estimation of alcohol content is more culturally relevant and does not differ in accuracy from the international standard. %8 2010 Aug