Awareness and Attitudes of Mongolian Adolescents and Youth toward Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-related Harm

Khishigtogtokh Dashpuntsag; Unurtsetseg Chandaga; Nyamsuren Tserennadmid; Udvaltsesteg Bat-Ochir; Yerkyebulan Mukhtar; Gan Erdene Altankhuyag; Nadmidtseren Gombodorj; Oyunbileg Dulamsuren; Myadagmaa Jaalkhorol

doi:10.22122/ahj.v13i3.1250

Awareness and Attitudes of Mongolian Adolescents and Youth toward Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-related Harm

Addict Health. 2021 Jul;13(3):185-193. doi: 10.22122/ahj.v13i3.1250.

Authors

Khishigtogtokh Dashpuntsag¹, Unurtsetseg Chandaga¹, Nyamsuren Tserennadmid², Udvaltsesteg Bat-Ochir¹, Yerkyebulan Mukhtar³, Gan Erdene Altankhuyag⁴, Nadmidtseren Gombodorj⁴, Oyunbileg Dulamsuren⁴, Myadagmaa Jaalkhorol¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
² Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, School of Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
⁴ Department of Health Social Work and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine alcohol consumption among Mongolian adolescents and youth, as well as their awareness and attitudes toward alcohol-related consequences.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data collected from students in secondary schools, colleges, and universities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, using descriptive analysis methods.

Findings: More than half of respondents had tried alcohol in the past, and 15.9% of high school students and 58.8% of university students had consumed alcohol in the last month (P = 0.0001). In total, 70.0% of respondents celebrated holidays with alcohol, 23.4% had economic problems due to alcohol consumption, 7.8% had health problems 1-2 times in the last 30 days, and roughly 36.0% had negative attitudes toward alcohol. Approximately, 15.0% of adolescents and young people had an insufficient understanding of anti-alcohol measures and laws.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Mongolian adolescents and youth have a high level of alcohol consumption and insufficient awareness and attitude regarding alcohol-related harm.

Keywords: Adolescent; Alcohol drinking; Attitude; Awareness; Knowledge.