Degree of urbanization and gender differences in substance use among Slovak adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Substance use among adolescents varies with gender and between countries. Urbanization may contribute to this. The aim of our study is to explore the association between the degree of urbanization and gender differences in adolescent smoking, binge drinking, and cannabis use.


METHODS
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of Slovak adolescents was used (N = 3,493; mean age = 14.33), stratified by degree of urbanization. The effects of gender and urbanization of the area and their interaction on substance use (smoking, binge drinking, and cannabis) were analyzed using a logistic regression model adjusted for age.


RESULTS
Gender and area and their interaction had statistically significant (p < 0.01) associations with substance use. The lower the urbanization of the area, the less riskily females behaved. An exception was found in the case of binge drinking where the results of the interaction of gender and degree of urbanization were not significant for the second least urbanized area.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence rate of substance use among girls increased along with an increasing degree of urbanization, while the prevalence rate of substance use among boys remained constant.
Medical Faculty, Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Graduate School and Health Psychology Unit, Public Health Institute, PJ Safarik University Kosice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11, Kosice, Slovakia. lukas.pitel@upjs.sk
Lukas
L
Pitel
Andrea Madarasova
AM
Geckova
Jitse P
JP
van Dijk
Sijmen A
SA
Reijneveld
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014507:Urbanization