The increasing levels and more frequent use of alcohol among females especially those in
younger age groups has been noted with concern worldwide. However qualitative data on this
problem is limited. This study therefore aimed to explore qualitatively factors contributing to
female adolescents' alcohol use and abuse, their knowledge regarding risks associated with
alcohol use and abuse and to understand the contextual and environmental factors that render
female adolescents vulnerable to engage in drinking behaviours. This study was guided by
the Prototype / Willingness model. The data was collected using two (2) focus groups and five
(5) individual semi-structured interviews with Grade 9 female high school learners. Data
analysis was done using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that there are
various individual, social as well as contextual factors contributing to alcohol use among
female learners. These factors include age onset, low self-esteem, influence of significant
others e.g. parents, peers, celebrities, media alcohol adverts especially through Television,
easy availability and accessibility of alcohol as well as lack of law enforcement on selling of
alcohol to minors. Protective factors emerged from the findings and these include parental
monitoring, high self-esteem and good mother-daughter attachment. The study also indicated
various positive perceptions why female adolescents use alcohol. These included perceiving
alcohol use as fun, “cool” and glamorous, as a coping mechanism as well as a symbol of
adult status and being “Western”. Although female adolescents have knowledge of most of
the health and social consequences of alcohol most of them believe that they cannot be
affected and they still continue to plan to use alcohol.
Several recommendations are also presented. These could assist female learners, parents (and
other caregivers), community members, policy makers, researchers, program developers
especially those interested in adolescent health as well as other stakeholders e.g. South
African Police Services (SAPS) and Department of Education etc. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/9283 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Hlomani, Thokozani J. |
| Contributors | Meyer-Weitz, Anna. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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