Relationship between health literacy in substance use and alcohol consumption and tobacco use among adolescents, Northeast Thailand

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is an important role-play in health risk behaviors such as alcohol drinking and smoking. Inadequate HL in substance use (HLSU) is a barrier to reduce the risk of alcohol and tobacco use. This study aims to investigate the association of HLSU with alcohol consumption and tobacco use among Thai adolescents. Hence, the strengthening of HL program intervention may applied to reduce substance abuse among Thai adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 1087 university students studying in three universities located in northeastern area with multistage sampling methods by geographical areas. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was applied to determine the effect of HLSU of alcohol consumption and tobacco use. RESULTS: Most adolescents were drinkers (60.7%) and about 20.7% were smokers. Approximately 40% of them reported as inadequate HLSU. Adolescents with inadequate HLSU and a high level of positive alcohol expectancies and smoking outcome expectancies (SOE) were more likely to drink alcohol and smoke. Conversely, those who had a high level of negative alcohol drinking and SOE were less likely to consume alcohol and tobacco. CONCLUSION: Adolescents’ alcohol consumption and tobacco use were influenced by HL, hence improving adolescents’ HLSU could help prevent or reduce the risk of drinking and smoking behaviors.

The Relation of Social-ecological Factors and Health Literacy to Medical Students’ Alcohol Use Behavior in Hubei Province, China

“…This study showed that medical students with low HL were more likely to drink alcohol, and the results of this study are consistent with those of Yangyuen et al 5 who reported that adolescents with inadequate HL are more likely to consume alcohol. One explanation is that this phenomenon occurs due to the considerable academic and employment pressures that medical students are currently facing and the tedium of medical knowledge that makes them willing to choose easy access to alcohol for a brief period of pleasure.…”

“…In 2012, the rate of alcohol use among adolescents was 21.8%, increasing to 41.2% in 2016 2 and 48.09% in 2022. 3 Previous studies have shown that the main risk factors associated with alcohol use among young people include smoking, 4 monthly household income, 5 , 6 , 7 family environment, 8 , 9 intimate partners 9 , access to alcohol, 10 , 11 alcohol expectations, 12 , 13 social norms of alcohol 14 - 16 and health literacy (HL). 17 , 18 In addition, due to inadequate HL, individuals have limited ability to access, understand, interpret, and evaluate drug-related information and low self-management knowledge to make appropriate decisions to prevent or avoid the risk of drinking or to abstain from drinking.…”

“… 17 , 18 In addition, due to inadequate HL, individuals have limited ability to access, understand, interpret, and evaluate drug-related information and low self-management knowledge to make appropriate decisions to prevent or avoid the risk of drinking or to abstain from drinking. 5 , 19 Thus, limited HL may lead to alcohol dependence, poor treatment outcomes, and relapse. 20 However, low HL may influence alcohol use, but no studies have been conducted with medical students in China, and there are no statistics or evidence on this topic.…”

Global alcohol policy implementation in Thailand: A narrative review

“…However, in the general population of Thailand, drinking persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wichaidit et al, 2021), particularly among men (Wichaidit et al, 2019). Similarly, although drinking has declined in recent years among adolescents and youths (Assanangkornchai et al, 2020), the prevalence has remained very high in population sub-groups (Wichaidit et al, 2023) and nearly half of the participants in a recent study had inadequate levels of health literacy with regard to alcohol (Yangyuen et al, 2021). Strategies of the NAAP-II to address these gaps include providing continued support for health education, health promotion, and initiating projects to install values in abstaining from alcohol and creating opportunities to abstain from drinking (Chinanonvej, 2020; Office of the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee, 2022).…”

Peer influence and its impact on behavior among South Indian adolescents: A descriptive cross-sectional study

“…[ 15 ]Adolescents also engage in self-harm and suicidal behaviors, and it is more likely to be seen in individuals who use psychoactive substances and with symptoms of conduct problems. [ 16 17 18 ] Sexual misconduct was also frequently seen in these individuals who use alcohol and tobacco. These risky behaviors of adolescents are associated with higher anterior cingulate cortex neural sensitivity, and they are particularly vulnerable to risky peer influence.…”