title: Pattern of alcohol consumption and associated factors among adolescents students of public schools in an inner city in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify issues related to alcohol consumption among students from an inner city in Southeastern Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 638 students from 13 to 17 years old, of which 355 (55.6%) were girls, were randomly selected in 13/40 (32.5%) public schools from November 2009 to August 2010. A structured questionnaire was used to collect personal/family data, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to evaluate alcohol consumption. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that 516 (80.9%) students have used alcohol in their lifetime, and 115 (18.4%) had hazardous drinking (AUDIT ≥ 8). By crude analysis, the hazardous drinking was associated with age range (16 - 17 years old), age at first alcohol consumption (≤ 12 years old), higher family income, conflicting family environment, absence of religion practice and parents that consume alcoholic beverages. By adjusted analysis, it was observed an association with the age at first alcohol consumption [≤ 12 years old, odds ratio (OR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.4 - 4.4]. Active sex life was more frequent among those that have used alcohol in their lifetime (OR = 3.3; 95%CI 2.0 - 5.3). Under the influence of alcohol, 22/103 (21.4%) students have not always used condoms. Among all, 25.4% believe that there is no risk in drinking, and 98% had already bought alcoholic beverages. Having the desire to drink after watching alcoholic beverage advertisements was more frequent among adolescents who had already consumed these beverages (OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.1 - 2.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alcohol consumption is early and worrying among adolescents, emphasizing the need for awareness of students and their parents and carers to these risks, and also the compliance with the law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil.
authors: Tatiana Gonçalves
authors: TG
authors: dos Reis
authors: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brasil.
authors: Luiz Carlos Marques
authors: LC
authors: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires