The Pattern of and motives for alcohol use among the students at the faculty of Health Care Sciences at the University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus

Abstract

Alcohol use and abuse is highly prevalent among university students and it is a major

health concern for universities across the globe. It is important to identify students at

risk of, and those who engage in heavy drinking and the reasons thereof so that early

identification and referral for intervention can be made before students at risk suffer

dire consequences.

The aim .of this study was to determine the pattern of alcohol use among the health

care science students at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus).

A quantitative, cross-sectional approach was utilised. Data was gathered by the use of

a self administered questionnaire. Stratified and cluster techniques were used to obtain

the sample. Descriptive statistics was used to describe data and explore relationships.

Relationships between variables of interest were established by using the Spearman's

rank correlation coefficient (rho).

The prevalence of alcohol use among the participants was relatively low (23%). 15%

of respondents were categorized as light drinkers, 3.5% moderate drinkers and 3.5%

heavy drinkers. The respondents scored the lowest on the Peer Pressure motive for

alcohol use (35.6%) and equal on the Personal Enjoyment and Tension Reduction

category, both having mean scores of39% respectively. The Spearman's rho revealed

statistically significant relationships among the different types of drinking categories and the following drinking motives: to experience a good time, to feel good, to cheer

up and to ease when blamed.

This studies finding revealed that the prevalence of alcohol use among health care

science students at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus) was exceptionally

low. The study also brought to light that social motives for drinking was the primary

drinking motive and the correlations between the patterns and motives for drinking

were only found among four sub categories from the drinkin motives sub-scales.