Original Articles
26 September 2025
Vol. 20 No. 2 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2025.1406

Spatial autocorrelation patterns and factors associated with regular alcohol consumption behaviour among Thai men

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Moran’s I, LISA, spatial regression, alcohol consumption, Thailand
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Naowarat Maneenin
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6612-2869
Doctor of Public Health Program, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Warangkana Sungsitthisawad
warsun@kku.ac.th
Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Chanwit Maneenin
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2323-7767
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
Chananya Jirapornkul
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3981-8876
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Kittipong Sornlorm
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2734-0764
Department of Health Management Innovative Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Roshan Kumar Mahato
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9287-2743
Department of Health Management Innovative Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Wongsa Laohasiriwong
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7838-716X
Department of Health Management Innovative Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Alcohol consumption is a major health concern in Thailand contributing to addiction and disease. With 17 million Thai men regularly drinking alcohol, cultural norms and environmental factors influence consumption patterns. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) research has established connections between alcohol outlet density and increased drinking. Using Moran’s I, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and spatial regression models, spatial clusters of alcohol consumption were identified across Thai provinces, with Chonburi Province showing the highest rate at 72.2% and Yala the lowest at 28.6%. Regular alcohol consumption among Thai men exhibited a positive spatial correlation, with Moran’s I equal to 0.477. Bivariate analysis found significant spatial autocorrelation between alcohol outlet density (0.301), population density (0.237) and access to medical facilities (0.290), showing high-high clusters in urbanized areas and low-low clusters in southern regions. Spatial regression using the Spatial Lag Model (SLM) demonstrated that alcohol outlet density, population density and the proportion of the population to medical facilities are significant factors influencing alcohol consumption, explaining 49.2% of the variation in alcohol consumption. The findings suggest the need for targeted public health interventions in high-risk areas, especially in regions with dense alcohol outlets and urban populations, alongside developing policies to promote healthier behaviours and limit alcohol access.

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Spatial autocorrelation patterns and factors associated with regular alcohol consumption behaviour among Thai men. (2025). Geospatial Health, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2025.1406
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