[Problems related to alcohol drinking among youth in Jujuy, Argentina].
OBJECTIVE
To examine drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems among youth in Jujuy, Argentina.


METHODS
A survey was conducted in 2005 with a representative sample of 9th grade youth (12 to 17 years old) including sociodemographic and consumption data, and the AUDIT-C test.


RESULTS
Nine percent of girls and 11% of boys reported hazardous drinking; 12% of girls and 19% of boys reported dependence symptoms. The odds ratio for dependence symptoms (adjusted OR 0.7; 95%CI: 0.6-0.8) and for hazardous drinking (adjusted OR 0.7; 95%CI: 0.6-0.8) was significantly lower for girls compared with boys. Older age, working, and attending night school were risk factors for hazardous drinking, dependence symptoms, and harmful drinking.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant proportion of youth reported problematic patterns of alcohol drinking, highlighting the need to implement prevention and treatment interventions tailored to the adolescent population.
Alderete
Ethel
E
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. e_alderete@arnet.com.ar
Kaplan
Celia P
CP
Nah
Gregory
G
Pérez-Stable
Eliseo J
EJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001118:Argentina; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male