Table 3.
Alcohol use patterns among study participants
| Variables | Frequency (%) |
| Lifetime alcohol consumption (N = 380) | |
| Never consumed | 148 (38.9) |
| Ever consumed | 232 (61.1) |
| Current consumption | 211 (55.5) |
| Previous consumption but stopped | 21 (5.5) |
|
Mean age at alcohol initiation ± standard deviation |
13.0 ± 2.4 |
| Frequency of alcohol consumption (n = 211) | |
| Frequently | 147 (69.7) |
| Occasionally | 53 (25.1) |
| Rarely | 11 (5.2) |
| Consumed alcohol in the past 7 days (n = 211) | 171 (81.0) |
|
Types of alcohol consumed (multiple responses allowed for one respondent) |
|
| Beer | 98 (46.4) |
| Alomo* | 43 (20.4) |
| Wine | 2 (0.9) |
| Spirits | 51 (24.2) |
| Primary reasons for drinking (n = 211) | |
| Fun | 84 (39.8) |
| Stress relief | 98 (46.4) |
| Peer pressure | 22 (10.4) |
| Others | 12 (5.7) |
| CAGE questionnaire responses (n = 211) | |
| Ever felt the need to cut down or reduce drinking | 108 (51.2) |
| Ever annoyed by someone criticizing your drinking | 88 (41.7) |
| Ever felt bad or guilty after drinking | 102 (48.3) |
| Ever felt the need for an early-morning drink (eye-opener) | 77 (36.5) |
| Problem drinker (n = 211) | 122 (57.8) |
| Had at least one drunken episode in the past month | 148 (70.1) |
| Ever used alcohol just before or during sexual intercourse | 95 (45.0) |
| Willing to quit drinking (n = 211) | 134 (63.5) |
| Attempted to quit within the past year (n = 211) | 96 (45.5) |
| Perceived ability to quit drinking (n = 211) | 145 (68.7) |
|
Ever received assistance in attempts to reduce or quit drinking (n = 211) |
61 (28.9) |
| Assistance from: | |
| Professional or healthcare worker | 24 (39.3) |
| Family member | 26 (42.6) |
| Friend | 25 (40.9) |
*
Alomo is a widely available commercially produced alcoholic beverage that is popular in Nigeria