Abstract
BackgroundAlcohol use is a serious public health concern among youth in South Africa and worldwide.AimTo determine the factors contributing to alcohol use among high school learners in the rural areas of Limpopo province.SettingThe Greater Marble-Hall municipality, Sekhukhune district in Limpopo province.MethodA quantitative, cross-sectional study design was conducted on 314 learners from three high schools in a rural area in Limpopo. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select learners from 11 to 25 years of age. The drinking behaviour was classified according to predetermined Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Data were analysed using SPSS Software v23.0.ResultsMore than half of the respondents were consuming alcohol 169 (53.8%). Also, 173 (55.1%) of respondents had parents who consume alcohol and 204 (65%) had friends who drank alcohol. Most respondents were classified as low-risk drinkers (AUDIT score < 8) and a quarter of the respondents were classified as almost dependent on alcohol (AUDIT score > 13). Significant associations were found between learners’ alcohol consumption and parents and friends who drank alcohol (p = 0.000; p = 0.000, respectively).ConclusionAlcohol use was prevalent among high school learners in the area under investigation. Also, learners who had parents and friends who consume alcohol were more likely to consume alcohol. Further, learners who were classified as almost dependent on alcohol needed urgent intervention as their health-related quality of life was likely to be poor.
Highlights
Alcohol use among young and old people is one of the most significant public health and social problems worldwide.[1,2] Despite the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption on health, alcohol beverages are consumed throughout the world
Annual alcohol consumption was equal to 6.13 litres of pure alcohol consumed by persons aged 15 or older in 2005.4 The 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Alcohol Consumption[4] in 189 countries places South Africa as the 19th highest consumer of alcohol
There was no significant association between genders and age of the respondents and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) classification of alcohol drinking (p = 0.535)
Summary
Alcohol use among young and old people is one of the most significant public health and social problems worldwide.[1,2] Despite the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption on health, alcohol beverages are consumed throughout the world. Alcohol consumption is rated as the world’s third largest risk factor for diseases.[3] The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor of more than 60 major types of diseases and injuries that include Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), cancer, cardiovascular diseases, foetal alcohol syndrome, diabetes mellitus, suicide and violence to name a few.[4] Worldwide, annual alcohol consumption was equal to 6.13 litres of pure alcohol consumed by persons aged 15 or older in 2005.4 The 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Alcohol Consumption[4] in 189 countries places South Africa as the 19th highest consumer of alcohol. Alcohol use is a serious public health concern among youth in South Africa and worldwide
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Schedule a callMore From: The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa
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