Analysis of Sociocultural Factors Influencing School Failure in Adolescents

Abstract

School failure is a very important problem among adolescents. Identification of underlying associated sociocultural factors would allow to take action on this problem. In order to evaluate the prevalence of school failure among adolescents and analyze the associated sociocultural factors, an anonymous survey was carried out among students attending 10 public and private schools in Buenos Aires city. We considered school failure repeating at least one school-year during secondary school. 1722 surveys were analyzed. The age-range of adolescents was 13 - 20 yrs; 47.6% were female. The prevalence of school failure was 20.8 % and it was significantly associated with public school attendance (OR= 4.4; IC 95%= 3.36–5.79), elementary school failure (OR=1.99; IC 95%=1.27–3.12), need of extra examination (1) (OR=5.92; IC 95%= 4.58–7.66), need of extra examination (2)(OR= 4.70; IC 95%= 3.63- 6.10), absenteeism (OR= 1.66; IC 95%= 1.30- 2.11), expulsion (OR= 4.60; IC 95%= 2.38–8.93), not living with both parents (OR= 1.53; IC 95%=1.19–1.97), domestic violence (OR=1.92; IC95%=1.21–3.15), mother with no university studies (OR= 4.16; IC95% = 2.87 – 6.06), father with safe job (OR=1.54;IC 95%=1.14–2.10), smoking (OR= 2.42; IC95% = 1.88–3.10), alcohol (OR=1.55;IC 95%=1.22–1.98), drugs (OR=2.16;IC 95%=1.45–3.18), sexual intercourse (OR=3.22;IC 95%=2.51–4.12), pregnancy (OR=2.71;IC 95%=1.15–6.32). The multivariate analysis showed a significant association between school failure and public school attendance (OR= 2.93; IC 95%= 2.15–3.98), need of extra examination (1) (OR= 2.10; IC 95%=1.49–2.96), need of extra examination (2) (OR=1.87; IC 95%=1.33–2.63), absenteeism (OR= 1.36; IC 95%= 1.03–1.79), expulsion (OR= 3.06; IC 95%=1.48–6.31), mother with no university studies (OR= 0.53; IC 95%=0.38–0.74), sexual intercourse (OR= 1.99; IC 95%=1.49–2.67), and smoking (OR=1.44; IC 95%=1.05–1.97). The prevalence of school failure as well as of the associated sociocultural factors was similar to that reported in similar studies performed in Spain and Uruguay. Taking these results into account would enable us to take preventive actions.