Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use in a sample of Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of the present study is to identify sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. Methods Students (n = 712) from the 7º to the 9º grade of six public schools were analyzed. The frequency of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption during the 30 days before the survey was reported. Physical activity, sleep duration, eating habits, screen time, and sociodemographic variables were retrieved. Mixed-effects logistic regressions were performed. Results The prevalence of alcohol consumption was 25.6% and cigarette smoking was 2.9%. In adjusted models, age and sweets intake were associated with both cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Age (OR = 2.32, 95%CI 1.5–3.7) and sweets intake (OR = 1.32, 95%CI 1.1–1.6) were positively related to odds of cigarette smoking while time watching TV were negatively associated with cigarette smoking (OR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.5–0.9). Age (OR = 1.9, 95%CI 1.6–2.3), sweets intake (OR = 1.2, 95%CI 1.0–1.3), and physical activity were positively associated with alcohol consumption (OR = 2.13, 95%CI 1.5–3.1). Conclusions While the prevalence of cigarette smoking was low, it was high for alcohol consumption. Behavioural, but not sociodemographic factors were associated with early smoking and alcohol use among adolescents. Interventions and policies may be more successful considering these factors.