FACTORS INFLUENCING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG EMMANUEL ALAYANDE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION STUDENTS OYO, OYO STATE

Abstract

Current evidence reveals an upward trend in Alcohol Consumption (AC) among college students in Nigeria with grave health-related consequences of violence, accidents, suicide and alcohol-related ailments. However, information on pattern and reasons for AC is limited. This study was therefore designed to investigate the factors influencing alcohol consumption among Emmanuel Alayande College of Education students, Oyo, Oyo state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed using a three stage sampling technique to select 3 faculties, 6 departments, the levels and 450 consenting respondents. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, pattern of AC, factors influencing AC as well as perceptions and knowledge of health implications of AC. Knowledge of the health implication was assessed using a 26-point scale. Scores<9, ≥9-17 and >17 were categorised as poor, fair and good respectively. Perception was measured on a 10-point scale, scores ≤5 were categorised as negative. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Respondents’ age was 20.5±2.4 years and 54.0% of the respondents were male. Respondents’ age at first alcohol initiation was 14.3±3.9 years. Prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption of at least one alcoholic drink was 63.3% while alcohol consumption in the last one year and in the last six months were 54.7% and 38.4% respectively. Majority (84.6%) of the respondents had positive perception towards AC with a score of 17.7±6.1. Identified reasons for using alcohol were peer influence (63.1%), access to alcohol in school (57.8%), social club (55.3%), relieves stress (50.9%) and curiosity (49.8%). Significantly, males were more likely to consume alcohol than females (OR-1.9; 95%; CI=1.0-3.6). Respondents who are members of social clubs were more likely to consume alcohol than those that do not have (OR=4.9; 95%; CI=2.5-9.6). Respondents who are members of social clubs were more likely to consume alcohol than those who are not (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.2-5.6). Respondents that have friends who drink alcohol were more likely to consume alcohol than those that do not have (OR=4.9; 95%; CI=2.5-9.6). Respondents that have parents who drink were more likely to consume alcohol than those that do not have (OR=7.29, 95%; CI=6.3-10.7). Respondents with positive perception were more likely to consume alcohol than those with negative perception (OR=14.7; 955 CI=8.5-25.3) and respondents with fair knowledge of health implication were more likely to consume alcohol than those with good and poor knowledge (OR=5.7; 95% CI=2.6-12.4). Alcohol consumption is high among students of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education. This calls for an urgent need for control and preventive intervention. Health education strategies focusing on factors influencing alcohol consumption, perception and knowledge of its health implication among college of education students is recommended.