TY - JOUR
T1 - Single Parent Family Structure as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students
T2 - Evidence from Jamaica
AU - Oshi, Sarah N.
AU - Abel, Wendel D.
AU - Agu, Chinwendu
AU - Omeje, Joachim C.
AU - Whitehorne-Smith, Patrice
AU - Ukwaja, Kingsley N.
AU - Ricketts-Roomes, Tana
AU - Meka, Ijeoma A.
AU - Weaver, Steve
AU - Rae, Tania
AU - Oshi, Daniel C.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - 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 drinking habits and their family structure. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative survey of 3,365 students were 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 were significantly 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 past year and past month alcohol use. Students whose parents "sometimes" knew their whereabouts were significantly less likely 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 with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use.
AB - 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 drinking habits and their family structure. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative survey of 3,365 students were 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 were significantly 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 past year and past month alcohol use. Students whose parents "sometimes" knew their whereabouts were significantly less likely 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 with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use.
KW - Alcohol consumption
KW - Family structure
KW - Jamaica
KW - Single parent
KW - Students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046736316&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.S1.19
DO - 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.S1.19
M3 - Article
SN - 1513-7368
VL - 19
SP - 19
EP - 23
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
JF - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
IS - S1
ER -
