Problem alcohol use and associated factors in a sample of university students in South Africa

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors in a sample of university students in South Africa. Undergraduate students were recruited conveniently from public campus venues. The sample included 722 university students (57.6% men and 42.4% women), with a mean age of 21.7 years (SD=8.8). Overall 22.2% of the university students were hazardous or harmful alcohol users, 32.2% among men and 8.5% among women. In multivariable analysis among men higher drinking norms, weak beliefs in the importance of limiting alcohol, current cannabis use and poorer subjective health status, and among women higher drinking norms, weak beliefs in the importance of limiting alcohol and current cannabis use were associated with hazardous or harmful alcohol use. High rates of hazardous or harmful use was found and various factors identified that can be used to guide interventions to reduce problem drinking among university students.