S1-7_mahidol 1.pmd

Objective: To study the drinking behavior and factors associated with drinking among female High School students in central Thailand. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 6,176 female students from central Thailand, who were classified into 2 groups according to their alcohol drinking practices in the past year (yes = 612, no = 5,564). Information was collected by an anonymous self-reporting questionnaire which consisted of 2 parts: socio-demographic factors, and alcohol drinking behavior during the past year from December 2007 to February 2008. Descriptive statistics, a chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Of all these respondents 9.91% admitted to drinking alcohol. Most of the students were 15 years old or younger (61.80%). Univariate analysis revealed that socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, residence, grade point average (GPA), having a job for earning money, and having family members with alcohol or drug problems were significantly associated with the student alcohol drinking (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age, showed that only four factors were associated with alcohol consumption: the educational level (OR mathayomsuksa 5 = 3.39, 95% CI = 1.55-7.41; OR mathayomsuksa 3 = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.71-3.09), residence in a private dormitory (OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.0110.27) and family members with alcohol or drug problems (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.43-2.08), and a GPA greater than 3 (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.58-0.86) (p < 0.05). The following for drinking practices were considered as inappropriate drinking behavior (20% drank over 2 times a month, 40% drank greater than 2 standard drinks each time, nearly 47% had experienced binge drinking, and one third had experienced drunkenness). Conclusion: The results suggested that preventive measures for alcohol abuse among female high school students should consider the educational level, residence within a private dormitory and family members with alcohol or drug problems. Continuous insistence regarding the disadvantages of alcohol to risk groups would reduce the proportion of new and current drinkers.