Social and structural determinants of youth alcohol use in Tanzania: The role of gender, social vulnerability and stigma.
Adolescent alcohol use remains an under-addressed population health issue across Africa. Although the literature explores the intersection of alcohol use and vulnerability to HIV and AIDS, there is limited evidence on the gendered uptake and use of alcohol among adolescents. Capturing adolescents' voiced experiences about the societal influences shaping their alcohol usage is essential for identifying contextually relevant interventions to reduce their vulnerability to alcohol and related risky behaviours, such as unsafe sex. We conducted qualitative research in urban Tanzania, including key informant interviews, systematic mapping of alcohol availability, in-depth interviews with adolescents in and out of school and adults, and participatory methodologies with adolescents ages 15-19. The findings described here were drawn from the participatory methodologies (n = 177); and in-depth interviews with adolescents (n = 24) and adults (n = 24). Three key themes emerged: (1) boys' increased social vulnerability to alcohol consumption; (2) the ways in which stigma shapes girls' alcohol usage; and (3) how gendered perceptions of alcohol use reinforce societal inequalities. There exists an urgent need to address the social and gendered vulnerabilities of youth in Africa to the uptake and use of alcohol, and identify interventions that reshape notions of masculinity increasing boy's vulnerability to use.
['Sommer|Marni|M|', 'Kaaya|Sylvia|S|', 'Kajula|Lusajo|L|', 'Marwerwe|Graca|G|', 'Hamisi|Hassan|H|', 'Parker|Richard|R|0000-0003-3796-0198']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000428:Alcohol Drinking D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D057228:Masculinity D057545:Social Stigma D013636:Tanzania D047568:Unsafe Sex D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol Tanzania Gender Adolescence HIV and AIDS AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus PEP – Post-Exposure Prophylaxis PrEP – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis TasP – Treatment-as-Prevention