title: Predictors of school dropout among adolescents in Puerto Rico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research aims to understand the circumstances associated with school dropout in a cohort of Puerto Rican adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study collected data from adolescents and their parents. Information related to school dropout among adolescents was obtained from the second year follow-up data from the longitudinal study funded by NIDA "Risky Families Embedded in Risky Environments" (Grant No. R01 DA 15301). Data was collected employing a self-administered and a face-to-face interview protocol. Prediction of school dropout was assessed throughout adolescent characteristics, family background, school experiences and behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the second follow-up, two years after the baseline assessment, approximately 6.2% of the adolescents reported dropping out from school. Logistic regression analysis indicates that older adolescents (OR = 6.6, 1.37-31.67), whose mother used drugs during pregnancy (OR = 4.9, 1.31-17.91), who reported high rates of absenteeism (OR = 4.8, 1.63-14.13), high school grade retention (OR = 3.7, 1.14-12.05), and attended school where teachers were attacked or wounded by students (O R =7.0, 1.44-34.17) were more likely to dropout of school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : These findings emphasize the need to further understand the effects of different elements of adolescents' environment such as family and school. It has been posited that dropping out of school is a process whose characteristics can be detected long before it occurs. The fact that students who dropout are more likely to report skip classes and grade retention can be relevant elements in prevention and early intervention for teachers and other school personnel.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Research, Education and Services in Addiction, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 60-327, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00960-6032. jcalderon@uccaribe.edu
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Calderón
authors.forename: Rafaela R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Tomás D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Juan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Negrón
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011647:Puerto Rico; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*