Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/4906
Title: Alcohol use amongst students in a university of technology in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Ntombela, Florence Buzani 
Keywords: Alcohol;Alcohol use;Students;Respondents;University of Technology (UoT)
Issue Date: 31-May-2023
Abstract: 
BACKGROUND
Alcohol use among students in universities is becoming a major problem worldwide
and has the potential of adversely affecting students’ performance academically,
including in South Africa. Peer group influence in higher education institutions is more
significant than parental or religious upbringing because students are away from
home, not under their parents’ direction anymore and are free to do as they please.
Therefore, peer group pressure plays a large role in the socialization of university
students and in introducing alcohol as an acceptable culture of tertiary educational
institutions.
Aim
The aim of this study was to determine the extent of alcohol use and drinking patterns
among university students in a university of technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa, and the relationship of these elements to their academic performance.
Methods
This was a quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study. A
structured questionnaire was used for data collection were collected from a purposive
sample of 349 undergraduate students in a university of technology in KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa. SPSS 26.0 was used for the statistical analysis of data.
Results
A significant number (67.0%) of respondents were in the age group of 20-24 years.
Only 34% of the total number of undergraduate students attested to drinking alcohol,
with 29.9% (n=35) drinking 3 to 4 standard drinks on one occasion and 5.1% (n=6)
drinking up to 9 or more drinks per sitting. About 25.8% of respondents reported
drinking monthly and 1.7% indicated weekly. About 5% of the sampled respondents
were problematic alcohol users of which 2% had medium level problems and 1% had
high-level problems. Conclusion
Problematic alcohol use among students in a university of technology was associated
with challenges like bunking classes, poor academic achievement, and peer pressure.
This study recommends employing joint strategies including faculty, lecturers, and
community leaders to reduce problematic alcohol use among students. The existing
efforts can be strengthened through awareness campaigns and information given to
all levels of undergraduates, starting in orientation week for the first years, a period
where students are first acquainted into a new values and society.
Description: 
Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Health Sciences in Nursing at the Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2022.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/4906
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51415/10321/4906
Appears in Collections:Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)

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