PREVALENCE, PATTERN AND DETERMINANTS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC IBADAN, OYO STATE.

Abstract

The heavy consumption of Alcohol, a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties is on the rise among young people. This risk behavior carries adverse health and social consequences given its intoxicating, toxic and dependence-producing properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern and determinants of alcohol consumption among students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey including 394 consenting students of the institution was conducted. A five stage sampling technique was used to select study respondents. Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) were used to collect data instruments. For the quantitative data, a semi-structured pretested self-administered questionnaire was developed and used in collecting socio-demographic information, knowledge of health effects and alcohol use, prevalence & pattern of alcohol consumption, determinants of alcohol consumption and recommendation to improve students drinking behavior. For the qualitative study, a focus group discussion guide was developed which explored knowledge and perceptions to alcohol use. Knowledge of alcohol risk was scored on a 19point scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p=0.05 Results showed that mean age of respondents was 22.46±3.54 with the range of 15 to 35 years. More (62.9%) respondents were male, 96.7% were single and 93.1% were Yoruba. More of the students (63.2%) live off campus, 75.9% from nuclear family, and 69.0% Christian. Alcohol use knowledge score was 11.98±4.86 with 20.7% having poor knowledge. Current alcohol use prevalence was 32.0%. In respect to alcohol drinking pattern, almost half of the respondents (43.6%) preferred to take alcoholic wine and beer (25.0%). Of the respondents, 57.1% reportedly drink with close friends, 68.2% use pocket money as source of fund for alcohol and 54.6% drink mostly at night. 39.2% of the respondents have got drunk before, and when asked for the reason for drinking, majority of the respondents (64.1%) said in order to have fun. Only 7.7% reported to have missed a class because they were drunk, although 61.7% reported that they have planned to quit alcohol. The proportion of alcohol consumers was higher among students whose father, mother and siblings were drinking and the difference was significant (p<0.05). Having large friends that attend parties was also found to be significantly associated with alcohol intake (p<0.05). Alcohol consumption among students of Ibadan polytechnic is fairly high suggesting an urgent need for school authorities, program experts and government to formulate better policies and programs especially those that can have direct influence of family on young people risky behavior.