Factors Associated with Alcohol Access and Drinking Behavior of Adolescents in Uttaradit Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore factors associated with alcohol access and drinking behavior of adolescents in Uttaradit Province. The simple random sampling technique was used with 400 students in educational institutions. Data was collected by questionnaires during January – December 2017; and were analyzed by using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation),and inferential statistics (binary logistic regression analysis). The research found that 84.3% of the adolescents drank alcohol beverages. The average age of their first time to drink to alcohol was 16.37 years old. The most popular type of alcohol was beer 51.3%; and 69.8% of them used to purchase alcoholic beverages. The popular shops for alcohol sales were drinking shops, groceries, and convenience stores. The factors significantly influencing alcohol accessibility were positive attitudes toward alcohol drinking (ORAdj=3.46, 95% CI: 1.34-8.92), and having opportunitied to drink among their peers (ORAdj=2.46, 95% CI:1.22-4.95) (p<0.05). These two factors could predict up to 25.10% of alcohol accessibility among adolescents (pseudo R2=0.251). In addition, the factors significantly influencing alcohol drinking among adolescents were gender (ORAdj=2.01, 95% CI:1.15-3.52), level education (ORAdj=2.50, 95% CI: 1.12-3.51), having drinking family members (ORAdj=1.88, 95% CI: 1.07-3.31), peer drinking (ORAdj=4.20, 95% CI: 2.10-8.38), exposures to alcohol advertising and media (ORAdj=3.22, 95% CI: 1.85-5.60), advertising or campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption (ORAdj=3.56, 95% CI: 1.85-6.83), and positive attitudes toward alcohol drinking (ORAdj=3.46, 95% CI: 1.34-8.92) (p<0.05).These seven factors could explain up to 32.70% of alcohol drinking behavior among adolescents 32.70% (pseudo R2=0.327). The study indicated that adolescents had a relatively high level of alcohol drinking and easy access to alcohol. Therefore, relevant agencies should expedite the development of measures or programs to improve knowledge and correct attitudes about adolescents alcohol drinking.