Alcohol use among adolescents: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol use among adolescents.


METHODS
Population-based, cross-sectional study performed from 2005 to 2006, in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, with 1,056 adolescents aged between 11 and 15 years. An anonymous, self-applied questionnaire was used, based on the World Health Organization model for drug use. Poisson regression was employed to analyze data.


RESULTS
Prevalence of adolescents who reported alcoholic beverage consumption in the last month was 23.0% (95% CI: 20.4;25.4), prevalence was 21.7% among females and 24.2% among males. Prevalence of alcohol consumption at 11 years of age was 11.9%. In the multiple regression analysis, alcoholic beverage use by male adolescents was higher among those who reported tobacco use in the last month, those who were older, and those who had already had sexual intercourse. Among female adolescents, age was the only variable associated with alcoholic beverage use.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcoholic beverage use was prevalent in both sexes and began at a very early age. Smoking and previous sexual intercourse were also associated with this use. Preventive measures need to begin earlier, aiming to control alcohol use in the 11-to-15-year age group.
Strauch
Eliane Schneider
ES
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. elianestrauch@yahoo.com.br
Pinheiro
Ricardo Tavares
RT
Silva
Ricardo Azevedo
RA
Horta
Bernardo Lessa
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population