Relationship between Child Maltreatment and Alcohol Abuse - Findings from Adverse Childhood Experience Study in Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between of the problem of alcohol abuse and child maltreatment. METHOD: The ACE study was administered by the University Clinic of Psychiatry, Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The ACE study used a representative sample of students in year four of secondary school (aged 18 and above) and first- and second-year university students. The sample consisted of 664 secondary school students (258 males and 406 females.The university student sample consisted of 613 (343 female and 270 male) students from four universities. The data were obtaining by applying ACE Study Questionnaires.RESULTS: Individuals who experience psychological abuse are more prone to develop alcoholism. One of the most serious risk factors for abuse and neglect of children was alcoholism, as a form of household dysfunction. Overall, 13.4% of students lived with someone who misused alcohol. Overall, 10.7% lived with someone who was alcoholic. The association to each ACE was highest among respondents who grew up with two alcohol-abusing parents compared with persons with no alcohol-abusing parents. The health-risk behaviours of most concern included among the others alcohol use (by 82.2% of students). Alcohol use is widespread among students and its prevalence rate is almost 28% by both sexes, and they start drinking at the age of 14–15.CONCLUSION: Among the most frequent household dysfunctions was alcohol use by a family member and about 82% of respondents had ever used alcohol.