High alcohol use and misuse in a representative sample of in-school adolescents in the Seychelles

Abstract

The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among adolescents in the 2015 Seychelles Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). In all, 2 540 students (median age = 14 years, interquartile range = 12–16) filled in a questionnaire in the cross-sectional GSHS. Results indicate that 47.6% were drinking alcohol in the past month, 42.6% reported lifetime drunkenness, 23.1% reported heavy drinking (≥2 alcoholic drinks/day in the past month), and 15.7% reported problem-drinking. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, older age, tobacco use, amphetamine use, sexual risk behaviour, school truancy, physical fighting, injury, and low parental support were associated with current drinking and/or drunkenness, heavy drinking, and problem-drinking. A high prevalence of alcohol consumption was found; calling for intervention programmes in preventing alcohol misuse.