Abstract
BackgroundDrinking behaviour by adolescents is a significant public health challenge nationally and internationally. Alcohol use has serious challenges that continue to deprive adolescents of their normal child growth and development. Drinking is associated with dangers that include fighting, crime, unintentional accidents, unprotected sex, violence and others.AimThe aim of the study is to investigate drinking patterns, and factors contributing to drinking, amongst secondary school learners in South Africa.MethodThe sample included 177 male (46.6%) and 206 female (53.4%) respondents in the age range from 15–23 years, selected by stratified random sampling.ResultsThe results indicated that 35.5% of male and 29.7% of female respondents used alcohol. Both male and female respondents consumed six or more alcohol units (binge drinking) within 30 days; on one occasion the consumption was 17.5% and 15.9% respectively. It was found that alcohol consumption increases with age, 32.2% of 15–17 year-olds and 53.2% of 18–20 year-olds consumed different types of alcohol. It was deduced that 28.9% respondents reported that one of the adults at home drank alcohol regularly, and 9.3% reported that both their parents drank alcohol daily. It was found that 27.6% of the respondents agreed that friends made them conform to drinking. The tenth and eleventh grade reported 15.2% of male and 13.9% of female respondents were aware that alcohol can be addictive.ConclusionThis study found that age, gender, parental alcohol use and peer pressure were found to be the major contributing factors to alcohol use amongst learners Prevention campaigns such as introducing the harmful effects of alcohol use amongst learners are of utmost importance in reducing alcohol use amongst learners in South Africa.
Highlights
Substance use, alcohol, is a common source of social and health problems in almost all countries in the world, South Africa included.[1]
The findings indicated that early adolescent alcohol use and the use of other substances had significant negative effects on cognitive and effective self-management strategies.[10]
The findings of the study suggest that education and other life factors are seriously jeopardised by the pressure of alcohol use amongst learners at Makhosini Secondary School (MSS)
Summary
Alcohol, is a common source of social and health problems in almost all countries in the world, South Africa included.[1] The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2004) states that the availability of alcohol to underage persons under different circumstances, such as alcoholic families or communities, parental permissiveness, poverty and peer pressure fuels adolescent alcohol use.[2] Learners seem to have drinking problems, which pose global social and public health concern.[3] South Africa is experiencing substantial change with the onset age of alcohol intake. Drinking behaviour by adolescents is a significant public health challenge nationally and internationally. Drinking is associated with dangers that include fighting, crime, unintentional accidents, unprotected sex, violence and others
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