Hábitos alimentarios de los escolares de una zona básica de salud de Córdoba

Abstract

Background: To determine alcohol consumption amongst\rschoolchildren, and to discover the factors which are associated\rwith the said consumption.\rMethods: a cross-sectional study, by means of a health\rquestionnaire administered to 548 schoolchildren in the 6th and\r8th years of Primary Education (EGB) in schools within the\rBasic Health Area of Cordoba, with a median age of 12.4 years\rold (limits at 10 and 15 years old). Data were gathered on the\rconsumption of alcohol by schoolchlldren and in their social\renvironment, as well as other variables in the lives of schoolchildren.\r\rResults: 43.7% (interval of confidente at 95% -1C95q 39.4-\r47.9) have tried alcohol. 3.8% (lCss02.5-5.9) drink regularly,\rwhile 26.8% (I&~r,23.2-30.8) drink occasionally. By means of\rlogical regression analysis we found a connection between the\rconsumption of alcohol and increasing age (Odds Ratio -OR:\r0.83; lC95~0.07-0.98), being male (OR: 1.78; IC9j+l.l6-2.73),\rthe consumphon of alcohol by older brothers or sisters (OR:\r2.25; 1&91.35-3.75) the consumption of medicines to treat\rnervousness (OR: 5.33; 1C9s?r 1.26-X.5), poor educational performance\r(OR: 1.002; lC9sa 1 .O- 1.005). the consumption of tobacco\r(OR: 4.55; lC95%2.4-8.61) and the feeling of loneliness\r(OR: 1.41: lC951,1.01-1.97).\rConclusions: although the number of schoolchildren who\rtry alcohol is low in comparison with other areas, the percentage\rof current drinkers is very similar. It would seem that older\rbrothers and sisters have an important influente on starting\rconsumption. The profile of a school age Child who drinks\rcorresponds to a male, a smoker, and having feelings of loneliness.\r\rKey words: Adolescente. Alcohol. School. Schoolchildren’s\rhealth. Drug addiction.