Alcohol Use among Senior High School Stubents in the Ga Central Municipality

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: The second cycle institution corresponds with late adolescents. Adolescence is a period marked by increasing participation in health risky behaviors such as alcohol use. The use of alcohol at this critical age can lead to serious health outcomes such as causing harm to body organs such as the liver and sometimes injuries. It is also associated with negative social and behavioral consequences such as unsafe sexual behavior. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence of alcohol use and the factors that influence alcohol use among Senior High School students in the Ga Central Municipality. Methods: A quantitative cross sectional descriptive survey design was used. Cluster sampling of 392 SHS1 and SHS2 students between the ages of 15 to 19 years from two selected schools in the municipality completed a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software and results presented in frequency tables. Test of association and correlation between explanatory variables and the outcome of interest was done using chi-square. Findings: Alcohol use prevalence was 35% and the types of alcoholic beverage preferred by the respondents were beer and wine. Significantly, there was very low effect of alcohol use and curiosity was the reason for alcohol intake. The principal influencing factors of alcohol use was advertisement and peer pressure. Conclusion: Alcohol use still remains a problem among adolescents. However, a comparison of the two schools used in the study revealed that there was no significant recording that may suggest a difference in prevalence, effects, influence of alcohol use among the two schools. In view of this fact, it can also be concluded that alcohol use has no relationship in the nature of the school attended, be it public SHS or a private SHS.