Mathematical modeling of the dynamics of health risks associated with alcoholism in Tanzania: a literature review

Abstract

In this paper, a number of alcohol related studies have been reviewed in light of the strength and challenges of the models developed for their applicability in Tanzanian drinking context. The aim of this paper is to provide a meaningful reference of the current state of the art regarding to modeling the health risks epidemics associated with alcoholic behavior in the community. It also discusses and identify current open problem reflecting on more realistic community and suggesting new research perspectives in the mathematical modeling of alcoholism and its related risks. The peer influence and social cultural practices appear to be two equally important influential aspects of model formulation with opposing effects on the spread of alcoholism. The study also reveals that, different levels of alcohol consumption has differing health effects. In this regard, the study proposes development of an advanced infection models to represent the influence of external motivations on the spreading of alcohol abuse by introducing different population segments with distinct exposition towards and resistance to the influence of drugs as an open relevant problem.