Alcohol use by school-going adolescents in Ghana: Prevalence and correlates

This study investigated the risk factors that are associated with alcohol use among a nationally representative sample of school-going adolescents in Ghana. The 2012 version of the Ghanaian Global School-based Student Health Survey on adolescents aged 11–19 years old (N = 1984) was used. Logistic regression was employed to study the relationship between alcohol use variables and socio-demographic characteristic, mental health problems, psychosocial variables and parental involvement. The prevalence of alcohol use behaviours were 6.8%, 11.1% and 12.6% for alcohol problem, lifetime drunkenness and current alcohol use respectively. Loneliness, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were found to independently increase the odds of alcohol use behaviours (current alcohol use, lifetime drunkenness and alcohol problems) among adolescents. Similarly behavioural problems such as truancy, current smoking of cigarette, being bullied, being physically attacked, being involved in a physical fight were found to independently increase the odds of alcohol use behaviours (current alcohol use, lifetime drunkenness and alcohol problems). Having close friends was protective of current alcohol use but not for drunkenness and alcohol problems. These results underline the need for the development of school-based health interventions for early identification of adolescents who may be at-risk for alcohol-related problems.