@article { author = {Oshi, Sarah and Abel, Wendel D and Agu, Chinwendu and Omeje, Joachim and Whitehorne-Smith, Patrice and Ukwaja, Kingsley and Ricketts-Roomes, Tana and Meka, Ijeoma and Weaver, Steve and Rae, Tania and Oshi, Daniel C}, title = {Single Parent Family Structure as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students: Evidence from Jamaica}, journal = {Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention}, volume = {19}, number = {S1}, pages = {19-23}, year = {2018}, publisher = {West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.}, issn = {1513-7368}, eissn = {2476-762X}, doi = {10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.S1.19}, abstract = {Background: In Jamaica, alcohol is the most commonly used substance among adolescents and young persons.The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between Jamaican secondary students’ alcohol drinkinghabits and their family structure. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative survey of 3,365 studentswere analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results: Out of the 3,365 students, 1,044 (31.0%)were from single-parent families. Single-parent families, married-parent families and common law-parent families weresignificantly associated with lifetime use of alcohol (AOR= 1.72, 95% CI= 1.06 - 2.79; AOR= 1.73, 95% CI= 1.07- 2.81,AOR= 1.94, 95%CI= 1.17- 3.21 respectively). However, family structure was not significantly associated with pastyear and past month alcohol use. Students whose parents “sometimes” knew their whereabouts were significantly lesslikely to use alcohol in their lifetime compared to students whose parents “Always” knew where the students were.Conclusion: Family structure is an independent predictor of alcohol use among high school students in Jamaica.Being from single-parent families, married-parent and common- law parent families were significantly associated withincreased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use.}, keywords = {Single parent,family structure,alcohol consumption,Students,Jamaica}, url = {https://journal.waocp.org/article_60399.html}, eprint = {https://journal.waocp.org/article_60399_cdfb5068a33dcd025923e11f5057803b.pdf} }