Alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Mozambique: prevalence and correlates

Background: This study examined the prevalence of alcohol use among 1793 in-school adolescents in Mozambique using the Global school-based health survey dataset. Methods: The data was analyzed using STATA version 14.2. Both bivariate and multivariable analyses were employed. Results: It was found that the prevalence of alcohol use was 13.8%, 10% and 3.2% respectively for current alcohol use, drunkenness and alcohol problems. The results further showed that adolescents who were truants and smoked cigarettes had higher odds of being current alcohol users. However, adolescents whose parents knew about their activity had lower odds of being current alcohol users. Adolescents aged 15 and above, being attacked and smoking cigarettes had higher odds of drunkenness while those who had suicidal attempts and those whose parents checked their homework had lower odds of drunkenness. The results also showed that adolescents who were aged 15 and above, attacked, engaged in a fight and smoked cigarette had higher odds of having alcohol problems while those whose parents had knowledge of their activities had lower odds of having alcohol problems. Conclusions: To reduce this public health problem among adolescents in Mozambique, these factors should be considered in the development of school-based health interventions to tackle alcohol use. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.