Padrão de consumo de bebidas alcóolicas e fatores associados em universitários da área da saúde, Rio Verde, Goiás

Abstract

To investigate the consumption of alcoholic beverages in UNIRV university students, their association with sociodemographic variables, the use of illicit drugs and smoking. This is a university-based cross-sectional study, whose population consisted of 2,295 university students linked to the university's courses in nursing, dentistry, medicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy and physical education. All students regularly enrolled during the research period, of both sexes and aged 18 years and over, were included. The outcome was the pattern of alcohol consumption and associated factors in undergraduate health students. Exhibits included sociodemographic, academic, and behavioral variables. Data analysis used Poisson regression with robust variance. The data show that males, whites, aged 18 and 20, a Class A, without companions, who have failed and are between the 4th and the 7th period of their respective course, and who use drugs and are smokers, have a risk behavior for alcohol abuse. 80.3% of the participating academics did not use drugs in the last 30 days and 90% declared themselves as non-smokers. Men have a 1.82 times higher prevalence of alcohol abuse compared to women. Individuals reporting drug use within 30 days have a 2.95-fold higher prevalence rate for alcohol abuse than non-drug users. Smokers have a 2.78 times higher prevalence rate of alcohol consumption than non-smokers. Individuals who reported having used drugs within 30 days had a 2.39 times higher prevalence rate for alcohol abuse than non-drug users. Regarding the variable smoking, smokers have a prevalence ratio of 1.56 times higher alcohol consumption than non-smokers. The prevalence of risky behaviors for alcohol abuse among the undergraduates studied is high, especially among men. The present study showed that younger males (18 to 24 years old) who use drugs and are smokers have a risk behavior for alcohol abuse. Given this finding, it is clear that it is necessary to implement preventive measures at the university level. One of the measures designed is to effectively introduce the debate on alcohol abuse, in association with smoking and illicit drug use, especially among the young university population.