[Feelings of discrimination among students: prevalence and associated factors].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with feelings of discrimination among students.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 1,170 students from a total of 2,282 students enrolled in the 7th grade of an elementary school of the city of Gravataí, Southern Brazil, in 2005. Participants were selected by conglomerate random sampling. Data were obtained from self-applied instruments (Global School-based Student Health Survey, Body Shape Questionnaire, socioeconomic classification) that were completed in the classroom. Cox regression, modified for cross-sectional studies, was employed, according to a four-stage hierarchical model.


RESULTS
Prevalence of feelings of discrimination was 21.0%. These feelings were more prevalent among: girls (PR=1.93, 95% CI 1.51;2.46); those showing school absenteeism (PR=1.54, 95% CI 1.21;1.97); those who had used tobacco in their lives (PR=1.53, 95% CI 1.18;1.98); those concerned about their body image (PR=1.42, 95% CI 1.07;1.88); those with feelings of loneliness (PR=2.50, 95% CI 1.80;3.46) and sadness (PR=1.29, 95% CI 1.02;1.62); those with sleep difficulties (PR:1.41, 95% CI 1.08;1.83); those with suicidal ideation (PR=1.45, 95% CI 1.13;1.85) and those who had suffered some type of accidental (PR=1.56, 95% CI 1.23;1.97) or intentional injury (PR=2.04, 95% CI 1.51;2.76).


CONCLUSIONS
Feelings of discrimination were associated with sex and experience with tobacco. Its association with psychosocial factors indicates the coexistence of adverse situations, such as dissatisfaction with body image, depressive symptoms and presence of insults. These findings show the importance of health professionals and teachers acting together to identify these feelings early on, and guide and follow adolescents facing such situations.
Bittencourt
Alex Avelino
AA
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, RS, Brazil. enf.bittencourt@gmail.com
Aerts
Denise Rangel Ganzo de Castro
DR
Alves
Gehysa Guimarães
GG
Palazzo
Lílian
L
Monteiro
Lisiane
L
Vieira
Patrícia Conzatti
PC
Freddo
Silvia Letícia
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires