Heavy drinking and violent behaviour in youths in Guyana

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the problem of alcohol among Guyanese youths and its gender implications. DESIGN AND METHODS: The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was reviewed since there is a dearth of statistics on the consumption of alcohol in youths and violent behaviour. In all, 2,392 students participated in the GSHS. The focus was on early youth. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence of violence in girls. This was reflected by 33.8% having been physically attacked in a 12 month period, 36.6% were bullied in one month and 25% were involved in physical fights in a 12 month period. This indicates that bullying is a serious problem among adolescents in schools. CONCLUSION: This issue is one of particular concern because early initiation of alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of alcoholism in adults. The age at first drink and the regular consumption of alcoholic beverages during adolescence are strongly influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors as indicated in WHO Facts on Alcohol and Violence. There appears to be no surveillance system that captures data on gender based violence in Guyana. Thus, a system should be established to examine gender-based violence in the wider context of other forms of violence including childhood abuse, sexual victimizations, and self-harm and suicide.