Alcohol consumption among Brazilian Adolescents, National Survey of School Health (PeNSE), 2012
The trial of alcoholic beverages usually occurs in adolescence, a period characterized by intense psychosocial and biológica1 changes. The objective of this work is to describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption among Brazilian students and identify the socio-demographic factors associated alcohol consumption in the last 30 days.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional study with a cluster sample of 109,104 students in the 9th grade in Brazilian public and private schools in 2012. Were analyzed the prevalence and confidence intervals of 95 % of the indicators of alcohol consumption.
RESULTS:
Experimented a dose or more drinks 50.3 % (CI95% 49.0 – 51.6) of the students, the consumption of alcohol in the last 30 days was 26.1 % (CI95% 24.5 - 27.7), and there was no difference in prevalence in students from public and private schools. Drunkenness episodes were reported by 21.8 % (CI95% 21.1 - 22.5) of students; perception of students about the negative reaction of their family if they came home drunk was 92.2 % (CI95% 92 -92.3) and 10 % (CI95% 8.9 – 11.1) of them reported having problems with their families or friends because they had been drinking. Among adolescents aged less than 14 years old, the first alcoholic drink intake was predominantly at 12 to 13 years old. The most common way to get a drink was at parties, with friends buying in the market, shop, bar or supermarket and at home. The consumption of alcohol in the last 30 days was less frequent among boys, increasing with age.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study demonstrates the extension of alcohol as a problem, making it important to advance in measures such as the improvement of protective legislation for children and adolescents and stricter enforcement in alcohol sales.