title: Heavy Drinking and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 24 Low, Middle Income and Emerging Economy Countries.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate heavy drinking and social and health correlates in university students in low, middle income and emerging economy countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected in a cross-sectional survey of 17,590 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD 2.9) from 25 universities in 24 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Overall, 71.6 % were non-drinkers, 17.1 % moderate and 11.3 % heavy alcohol drinkers (14.2 % in men and 9.2 % in women) in the past 2 weeks. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age, poorer family background, living in a higher income country, weak beliefs in the importance of limiting alcohol use, higher country per capita alcohol consumption, other substance use (tobacco and illicit drug use), and poor life satisfaction was associated with heavy drinking. Addressing health beliefs and co-occurring addictive behaviors may be crucial in the prevention of heavy drinking in this population.
authors: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom, 73170, Thailand. karl.pel@mahidol.ac.th.|Department of Research and Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa. karl.pel@mahidol.ac.th.|HIV/AIDS/STIs and TB (HAST) Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X41, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa. karl.pel@mahidol.ac.th.
authors: Karl
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5980-0876
authors: K
authors: Peltzer
authors: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom, 73170, Thailand.|Department of Research and Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa.
authors: Supa
authors: S
authors: Pengpid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Heavy drinking; Multi-country; Social and health correlates; Young adults