Problemas relacionados con el consumo de alcohol en jóvenes de la provincia de Jujuy, Argentina / Problems related to alcohol drinking among youth in Jujuy, Argentina

OBJETIVO: Examinar los patrones de consumo y los problemas relacionados con el alcohol en jóvenes de la provincia de Jujuy, Argentina. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: En el año 2005 se aplicó una encuesta a una muestra representativa de 2924 jóvenes de noveno grado (12-17 años), incluidas la información sociodemográfica y de consumo y la prueba AUDIT-C. RESULTADOS: Hasta 9 por ciento de las mujeres y 11 por ciento de los varones refirieron consumo de riesgo; asimismo, 12 por ciento de las mujeres y 19 por ciento de los varones notificaron síntomas de dependencia. Las mujeres presentaban menor probabilidad que los varones de experimentar síntomas de dependencia (RM ajustada 0.7; IC95 por ciento 0.6-0.8) o de consumo perjudicial (RM ajustada 0.7; IC95 por ciento 0.6-0.8). Tener mayor edad, trabajar y asistir al turno nocturno fueron factores de riesgo para el consumo de riesgo, síntomas de dependencia y consumo perjudicial. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados ponen de relieve la importancia de instituir intervenciones de prevención y tratamiento para los adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems among youth in Jujuy, Argentina. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was conducted in 2005 with a representative sample of 9th grade youth (12 to 17 years old) including sociodemographic and consumption data, and the AUDIT-C test. RESULTS: Nine percent of girls and 11 percent of boys reported hazardous drinking; 12 percent of girls and 19 percent of boys reported dependence symptoms. The odds ratio for dependence symptoms (adjusted OR 0.7; 95 percentCI: 0.6-0.8) and for hazardous drinking (adjusted OR 0.7; 95 percentCI: 0.6-0.8) was significantly lower for girls compared with boys. Older age, working, and attending night school were risk factors for hazardous drinking, dependence symptoms, and harmful drinking. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of youth reported problematic patterns of alcohol drinking, highlighting the need to implement prevention and treatment interventions tailored to the adolescent population.

Longitudinal study of smoking progression in Chinese and Vietnamese American adolescents.

The use of tobacco remains a significant public health concern among Asian American (AA) adolescents. Understanding the factors that affect smoking progression among Chinese and Vietnamese adolescents in particular, may help in illuminating potential interventions that can be implemented to maximize scarce programming and resources. This study is a longitudinal cohort study with data collected in California via telephone over a two-year period. 1,270 Chinese and Vietnamese American adolescents were recruited via telephone listings from one southern and four northern California counties. Main outcomes were smoking susceptibility and change in smoking status. Examination of these adolescents indicated that in both groups: boys were more likely than girls to become susceptible to smoking, risk behaviors were associated with becoming smokers, having been susceptible at baseline was associated with susceptibility and smoking at follow-up, and the influence of friends was a predictor of susceptibility and smoking.