Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol consumption among youths of Siddharthanagar Municipality, Rupandehi District, Lumbini Province, Nepal: a community-based cross-sectional study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol consumption among youths. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Siddharthanagar Municipality, Rupandehi District, Lumbini Province, Nepal. PARTICIPANTS: Nepalese youths aged 15–24 years residing in Siddharthanagar Municipality selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. OUTCOME MEASURES: Alcohol consumption among youths, defined as having consumed alcohol at least once in the past 12 months. RESULT: Nearly half of the youths (n=136, 49.82%; 95% CI 43.70% to 55.90%) reported having consumed alcohol in the previous 12 months. The mean age at initiation of alcohol consumption was 17.6 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of alcohol consumption were considerably lower among female youths (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.16, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.38) than for male youths. The odds of alcohol consumption were also lower among Muslim and Christian youths than among Hindu youths (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.51), among youths whose friends did not drink alcohol (AOR=0.07, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.17) and among those without a family history of alcohol use (AOR=0.18, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.39). CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the respondents consumed alcohol. Sex, religion, peers’ drinking habits and family history of alcohol use were associated with alcohol consumption among youths. Local administrators should consider gender-sensitive educational interventions targeting male youths involving families and peer networks, which can help Nepal contribute towards achievement of sustainable development goal target 3.5.
Source: BMJ Open
Institutions: Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Government of Nepal
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,839
OpenAlex ID: W7223156095