School health promotion and use of drugs among students in Southern Brazil

Paz, Fernanda Marques; Teixeira, Vanessa Andina; Pinto, Raquel Oliveira; Andersen, Cristine Scattolin; Fontoura, Larissa Prado; Castro, Luís César de; Pattussi, Marcos Pascoal; Horta, Rogério Lessa

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the relationship between the health promotion conditions in schools and the consumption of alcohol and other drugs by students.

METHODS:

This is a cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of 3,464 students aged 12 to 17 from all schools of the cities of Lajeado and Sapiranga, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and 53 managers from the same schools; the data was collected in 2012. Reports of the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs in 2012 were used as outcomes, and the health promotion score in the school environment was used as the exposure of interest. We submitted the data to multilevel analysis.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of the annual use of tobacco was 9.8% (95%CI 8.8-10.8), alcohol was 46.2% (95%CI 44.5-47.8), and other drugs was 10.9% (95%CI 9.9-12.0). In the crude analysis, only the use of tobacco was associated with less health promoting schools (OR = 1.89, 95%CI 1.16-3.09) when compared to those with better conditions. This association lost statistical significance in the adjusted analysis (OR = 1.27, 95%CI 0.74-2.19).

CONCLUSIONS:

The effects of the school environment on the use of drugs, especially tobacco and alcohol, are manifested mainly by the individual and family conditions of the adolescents.

RESUMO OBJETIVO:

Analisar a relação entre condições de promoção de saúde nas escolas e o consumo de álcool e outras drogas pelos escolares.

MÉTODOS:

Estudo transversal de base escolar, com amostra probabilística de 3.464 escolares de 12 a 17 anos de todas as escolas de Lajeado e Sapiranga, RS, e 53 gestores das mesmas escolas; dados coletados em 2012. Os relatos do uso de 2012 de tabaco, álcool e drogas ilícitas foram tomados como desfechos e o escore de promoção de saúde no ambiente das escolas, como exposição de interesse. Os dados foram submetidos à análise multinível.

RESULTADOS:

A prevalência do uso anual de tabaco foi 9,8% (IC95% 8,8-10,8), álcool 46,2% (IC95% 44,5-47,8) e outras drogas 10,9% (IC95% 9,9-12,0). Na análise bruta, apenas o uso de tabaco esteve associado a escolas menos promotoras (OR = 1,89; IC95% 1,16-3,09) quando comparado as com melhores condições. Essa associação perdeu significância estatística na análise ajustada (OR = 1,27; IC95% 0,74-2,19).

CONCLUSÕES:

Os efeitos do ambiente escolar quanto ao uso de drogas, especialmente tabaco e álcool, manifestam-se principalmente pelas condições individuais e familiares dos adolescentes.