Use of alcohol by children and adolescents in Tarrafal of São Nicolau - Cabo Verde

Abstract

: There are many variables involved in the education of children and adolescents within a school context. However, there are other variables outside this context that influence learning conditions, including the early use of alcohol. Thus, this article aims to identify indicators within children and adolescents' lives that are conducive to alcohol use, as well as the perceptions about knowledge, effects, motivations, influences and their connection to with alcohol use. The study is essentially quantitative in nature, with descriptive and interpretive features. The results were obtained by means of a questionnaire from a sample of 55 children and adolescents from two different schools, a primary school and a secondary school. Of these subjects, 24 had already tried alcohol (group 1) and 31 had never tried it (group 2). From the results, it is highlighted that the average age is higher in the group that tried alcohol, the number of subjects who failed at least once is also higher in this group and the mother is the most representative guardian in both groups. Regarding the group that has already tried alcohol, it should be noted that most of the subjects tried alcohol at parties and at home, in the company of friends/colleagues, the drinks used were beer, punch, wine and liquor. The main reasons that lead children and adolescents to use alcohol are curiosity, wanting to have fun, having pleasure, and being accepted and getting along with friends.