Publication: Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand
Submitted Date
2011-04-14
Accepted Date
2011-04-14
Issued Date
2012-04-23
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eng
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247 kb
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Application/pdf
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Public Health. Vol.11, 2011, 1-8
Suggested Citation
Wisit Chaveepojnkamjorn, Natchaporn Pichainarong, วิศิษฎ์ ฉวีพจน์กำจร Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand. BMC Public Health. Vol.11, 2011, 1-8. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/2192
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Title
Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand
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Abstract
Background: Alcohol drinking is frequently related to behavioral problems, which lead to a number of negative
consequences. This study was to evaluate the characteristics of male high school students who drink, the drinking
patterns among them, and the associations between current drinking and other health risk behaviors which
focused on personal safety, violence-related behaviors, suicide and sexual behaviors.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore current alcohol drinking and health-risk behaviors
among male high school students in central Thailand. Five thousand one hundred and eighty four male students
were classified into 2 groups according to drinking in the previous 30 days (yes = 631, no = 4,553). Data were
collected by self-administered, anonymous questionnaire which consisted of 3 parts: socio-demographic factors,
health-risk behaviors and alcohol drinking behavior during the past year from December 2007 to February 2008.
Results: The results showed that the percent of current drinking was 12.17. Most of them were 15-17 years
(50.21%). Socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, residence, cohabitants, grade point average
(GPA), having a part time job and having family members with alcohol/drug problems were significantly associated
with alcohol drinking (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors,
revealed that health-risk behavioral factors were associated with current alcohol consumption: often drove after
drinking alcohol (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.88-5.12), often carried a weapon (OR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.27-5.42), often got
into a physical fight without injury (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.99-4.70), dating violence (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.79-3.71),
seriously thought about suicide (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.38-3.11), made a suicide plan (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43-
3.08), ever had sexual intercourse (OR = 5.62, 95% CI = 4.33-7.29), alcohol or drug use before last sexual intercourse
(OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.44-4.53), and got someone pregnant (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.73-9.25).
Conclusions: An increased risk of health-risk behaviors, including driving vehicles after drinking, violence-related
behaviors, sad feelings and attempted suicide, and sexual behaviors was higher among drinking students that led
to significant health problems. Effective intervention strategies (such as a campaign mentioning the adverse health
effects and social consequences to the risk groups, and encouraging parental and community efforts to prevent
drinking) among adolescents should be implemented to prevent underage drinking and adverse consequences.
Sponsorship
This study was supported by a grant from the Center for Alcohol Studies
(CAS), Thailand and was supported for publication by the China Medical
Board (CMB) Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.