Determinants of alcohol consumption and marijuana use among young adults in the Republic of Palau.
10.1186/s12199-020-00928-8
- Author:
Mizuki SATA
1
;
Renzhe CUI
1
;
Chifa CHIANG
2
;
Singeru Travis SINGEO
3
;
Berry Moon WATSON
3
;
Hiroshi YATSUYA
2
;
Kaori HONJO
1
;
Takashi MITA
4
;
Everlynn Joy TEMENGIL
3
;
Sherilynn MADRAISAU
3
;
Kazumasa YAMAGISHI
5
;
Atsuko AOYAMA
2
;
Hiroyasu ISO
6
Author Information
1. Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
2. Department of Public Health and Health Systems, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
3. Ministry of Health, Republic of Palau, One Hospital Road, P.O. Box 6027, Koror, 96940, Republic of Palau.
4. Faculty of International Relations, Kyoto Sangyo University, Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, 603-8555, Japan.
5. Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
6. Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. iso@pbhel.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol;
Drug;
Non-communicable disease;
Pacific islanders;
Palau
- MeSH:
Age Factors;
Alcohol Drinking/ethnology*;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Educational Status;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Marijuana Use/ethnology*;
Palau/epidemiology*;
Prevalence;
Sex Factors;
Young Adult
- From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
2021;26(1):12-12
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:This study aimed to describe the status of alcohol consumption and drug use among young adults as well as their determinants.
METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional study of 356 young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) living in Palau in 2013. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol and marijuana usage were compared within and between sexes, age groups, ethnicities, and education levels.
RESULTS:The proportion of current drinking was higher in people aged 21-24 than in those aged 18-20 (73.2% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.09 in men and 48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02 in women), while that of marijuana use did not differ between the age groups. The proportions of current drinking and marijuana use were higher in Palauan than in other ethnicities (current drinking: 70.6% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.005 in men and 38.8% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.04 in women; lifetime marijuana use: 80.0% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.02 in men and 56.1% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.09 in women). The proportion of frequent (3 times or more) marijuana users was higher for the lower educated than for the higher educated (62.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001 in men and 33.9% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.12 in women).
CONCLUSIONS:Sex, age, ethnicity, and education were significant determinants of alcohol and marijuana use.
