Using the Socio-ecological Model to Explain the Findings of Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Alcoholic Beverage Consumption among Adolescents in Public Schools in Uganda

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Consumption of alcohol among the youth could be attributable to socio-demographic characteristics. This paper anchors on the socio-ecological model to expound on the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of alcohol consumption among adolescents in public secondary schools. Specifically, the model was used to explore gender, religious affiliation, form or class of study, social media use, friendships, and involvement in places of entertainment as possible predictors of alcohol consumption. METHOD: We employed a cross-sectional survey with quantitative methods. The sample comprised 1819 participants, yielding a 91.8% response rate. Males were relatively more numerous (59.3%), and the mean age was 17.3 (SD = 1.9). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to deduce the association of selected demographics with the consumption of beer, wine, and spirits. RESULTS: The prevalence of alcohol consumption was generally high. Multivariate logistic regression showed a significant gender difference in the consumption of beer and spirits. Females had lower odds of consuming beer and spirits. Students in the Muslim and Pentecostal dominions were less likely to consume beer, wine, and spirits than their Roman Catholic and Anglican counterparts. Students in the Roman Catholic dominion had higher odds of consuming any type of alcohol compared to other religions. Loving to be in places of entertainment and the use of social media significantly predicted the consumption of beer, wine, and spirits. CONCLUSION: At the multivariate level, some socio-ecological factors could account for differential alcohol consumption among the students. Individual student-level factors such as gender and the institutional factor of religion could explain alcohol consumption among the students. Specifically, gender and religion were significantly associated with alcohol consumption. It is recommended that ecological differences and “gendered models” are considered as part of the interventions for in-school youth drinking.