The Prevalence and Pattern of Use of Alcohol among Undergraduate Students in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol abuse is a recognized phenomenon among university students in Nigeria and harms the education and performance of students. This may include disruption of interpersonal relationships, especially within the family, criminal behaviour, academic failure, vocational failure, and a lack of commensurate achievement. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study aimed at assessing the Prevalence and Pattern of Use of Alcohol Among Undergraduate Students In Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. It involved 290 Undergraduates selected using the Multistage sampling method. Results: The prevalence of current use of alcohol was 33.7% while two-thirds were not taking alcohol. There was a statistically significant association between current use of alcohol and sex (χ2 = 12.168, p ≤ 0.001), where more males than females use alcohol. Most (44.4%) undergraduates use alcohol weekly, 11.1% use it daily, and 14.3% Two times weekly. A majority (52.4%) take it after lectures and 27.0% take whenever they like. There was a statistically significant association between alcohol use and the level/year of study (χ2 = 27.258, p ≤ 0.001). More students in higher classes (5th year and 4th year) are taking alcohol when compared with new students and lower classes (1st year and 2nd year). A significant association was also found between alcohol use and respondent's Cumulative Grade Point Average-CGPA (χ2 = 22.809, p ≤ 0.001), as the majority of students using alcohol had a low CGPA (1.1 to 2.0) when compared to those with higher. Conclusion: The University and government should collaborate with students to establish peer support groups and programs that discourage the use of alcohol during school hours and while studying