Abstract:
Alcohol use is an important risk factor for morbidity, mortality, social and educational damages among the young people. There is a paucity of data on alcohol use among underage high school students in Kenya. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among underage high-school students in Murang’a and Kajiado Counties. A descriptive cross-sectional survey involving the modified Global School-based Health Survey questionnaire and in-depth key informant interviews were adopted. The questionnaire consisted of seven parts: socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol use patterns, tobacco & marijuana use, sexual behaviour, psychosocial as well as parental and community factors. Twenty key-informant interviews involving 9 head-teachers, 7 guiding and counselling teachers and 4 school captains were done. A representative sample of 938 respondents (61.9% males and 38.1% females) between 13 and 17 years of age selected by probability proportional to size technique from 10 and 21 secondary schools in Kajiado and Murang’a respectively was used. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviations and proportions were used as first-line exploratory analytic methods. A multivariable logistic regression was used to establish correlates of alcohol use. The prevalence of current use of alcohol was estimated at 37% (38% for Murang’a and 36% for Kajiado). The mean age of onset of drinking was 12.3 years ±s.d. 3.14. Overall, individual-level factors associated with current use of alcohol included: male gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.7,), cigarette
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use (AOR=4.3; 95% CI: 2.0-9.8) and missing school (AOR =3.2; 95% CI:1.8- 8.2). At the institutional level, students who found it easier to get an adult to buy alcohol on their behalf were 2.1 times more likely to use alcohol in Murang’a compared to Kajiado. The study concludes that there is a fairly high prevalence of alcohol use among the underage in the study areas associated with both individual and institutional-level factors. This study recommends sensitization programs for students on risk-reduction strategies involving alcohol use with a key focus on primary prevention. Moreover, substance abuse preventive programs should take into account other risky behaviours such as cigarette and marijuana use and sexual behaviour while paying particular attention to male gender.
