Prevalence and Associated Factors of Alcohol Consumption Among College Students in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Excessive alcohol drinking is an important risk factor for many socioeconomic and health problems. The use of alcohol during the teenage and young adulthood years is a common phenomenon in many societies. Thus the study was conducted with the objective of assessing the prevalence and associated factors of alcohol consumption among college students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May, 2014 among college students in Gondar town. In this study, 454 questionnaires were distributed to Gondar College of teacher’s education and Gotoneal college of health sciences students and questionnaires were recollected to assess prevalence of alcohol consumption and associated factors. Result: A total of 454 students participated in the study and all the study participants gave response to the questions. From the survey, it was found that 48.23 % and 26.4 % of the respondents have the experience of alcohol use as ever based and during last thirty days of interview period, respectively. Alcohol consumption experience under differing categories were assessed and a statistically significant difference in alcohol consumption existed only between males (67.6 %, 34.1 %) and females (35.3 %, 21.32 %); Muslims (12.8 %, 10.3 %) and Christians (51.6 %, 27.9 %) with both having P-values less than 0.05 at ever use and last 30 day basis. Based on current findings alcohol drinking was not risk factor for cigarette smoking (OR = 2.93; P>0.1) and Khat chewing (OR=1.18; P>0.1). However, presence of friends with drinking experience was significantly associated for alcohol consumption (OR=13.12; P<0.001). Conclusion: The proportion of students who have engaged in abusive alcohol use was significantly high. Therefore, we recommend regulatory monitoring on alcohol use and intervention activities to bring behavioral change among college students.