Factors Influencing Alcohol Use Among The Youth In Taifa Community

Abstract

Introduction: The youth are faced with turbulent transformational conflicts, which impact on their physical, social, cultural and emotional states. This causes them to commonly search for new experiences and are always curious to gain new sensations and thus engage in alcohol use. It is against this background that this study seeks to explore the factors influencing alcohol use among the youth of Taifa community in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken, which provide a snapshot of what is happening presently. A sample size of 391 youth between the ages of 15-24 years residing in Taifa community were recruited for the study using a two multistage sampling method to recruit the respondents. Data collection was done using pre-tested structured interviewer/ self-administered questionnaire and data analysis carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 and Microsoft excel 2010 spreadsheet. Findings: The findings indicate that alcohol use among the youth in Taifa community is high with about 31.3% of the respondents attesting that they take alcohol at least once a day. The study further found that age and the reasons for alcohol are significantly related. Alcohol intake among females and students were higher than males and other occupations. Conclusion: the youth involvement in the use of alcohol cannot be overemphasized. It is therefore critical that alcohol policy in Ghana take into consideration gender issues. Furthermore, the National Commission for Civic Education in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and religious bodies in Taifa should intensify public education campaigns on the effects of alcohol consumption.