Behaviors and Influencing Factors on Alcohol Drinking among Youths Living in Military Camp, Nakhonratchasima Province

Abstract

This research is a cross-sectional survey study to investigate behavior and to
identify factors influencing alcohol consumption among 157teenagers aged 13-18 years
living in a military camp in Nakhonratchasima for not less than 6 months. The data was
collected by using questionnaires and interview guidelines to determine proportions and
standard deviations. According to the Spearman’s rank order correlation, Pearson
correlation and Chi-square test, 47.8% of the adolescents (?) were alcohol consumers. Out
of thme24.2%were males and 23.6% were females. The average age of teenagers trying the
first time to drink alcohol was on 14.9 years. The preferred product for the first try was
beer to 49.4%. Besides the main reason mentioned for drinking alcohol was that they
wanted to try (38.5%). Other reasons for drinking was to socialize (94.7%). It was common,
that the youths consumed alcohol together with their friends (97.3%). About only half
(41.7%) of those investigated drank alcohol only once a week. 59.2% were moderate True
knowledge about the dangers of alcohol with 59.2% was moderate and and42.1% of the
teenagers had a moderate attitude toward alcohol consumption. The nutritional status of
these youths were overweight and fairly low, 10.2% and 4.5%. Factor associated with
alcohol consumption were knowledge of alcohol and effect of alcohol (p=0.011 and
0.046), Accessed to the trading source of alcohol, free-time, economics and party (p=0.025,
0.001, 0.001and0.021). Influence of friends (p=0.001). So the parent should pay on
controlling alcohol drinking behaviors of the youths and should be role model for good
behaviors.