Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
Department of General Studies and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Kingston, Jamaica
2
Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
3
College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
4
School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
Abstract
Background: In Barbados and the wider Caribbean region, alcohol is widely consumed by adolescents and young
people, including those in secondary schools. The high prevalence of alcohol use, and its potential adverse effects are
a source of concern to policy makers and the general population, which calls for better understanding of the drivers of
this problem. This study thus aimed at investigating whether parental alcohol drinking habit is a predictor of alcohol
use among secondary school students in the country. Methods: The predictor variables and response variables in the
study were categorical, and so descriptive, univariate analysis consisted of computation of frequencies and percentages.
Bivariate analysis using Pearson’s Chi Square was done to test for significant differences in the response variables
among groups. Logistic regression modeling was used in multivariate analysis to determine the predictor variables
that were significantly associated with the response variables. Results: Significant associations were seen between
students’ age, (P= 0.00), grade (P=0.00), fathers’ drinking habit (P=0.00), mothers’ drinking habit (P=0.00), and both
past year and past month alcohol use, in bivariate analysis. Logit model shows that students whose fathers drink only
on weekends, sometimes during the week, or every day, respectively, had significantly increased risk of alcohol use in
the past month (AOR= 2.62, 95%CI= 1.81- 3.77; AOR= 1.85, 95%CI= 1.19- 2.85; AOR= 2.18, 95%CI= 1.49- 3.18).
Students whose mothers drink only on special occasion had significantly higher risk of alcohol use in the past year and
past month (AOR= 1.99, 95%CI= 1.06- 3.74; AOR= 2.30, 95%CI= 1.36- 3.89 respectively). Conclusion: Having fathers
who drink only on weekend, sometimes during the week and every day were significantly positively associated with
alcohol use in the past month. Having mothers who drink only on special occasion was a risk factor for past year and
past month alcohol use. However, having mothers who drink every day was, counterintuitively, significantly inversely
associated with alcohol use in past year and past month.
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