Online Program

281635
Alcohol use among male and female university students in Mexico: Reasons for drinking


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Lee Strunin, Department of community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Timothy Heeren, Ph.D, Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Seth Kuranz, Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Background: To examine alcohol use and alcohol-related risk and protective factors among first year university students in Mexico. Methods: In 2012, 23,026 public university students in Mexico City ages 17-20 were surveyed about their alcohol use. Multiple logistic regression models examined associations between potential risk and protective factors and alcohol use. Results: 17,132 (74%) students were ever drinkers; 15,381 (67%) were current drinkers. Male and female current drinkers who drank because of the taste, for pleasure or increased social confidence had significantly increased odds of drinking 2-4 times a month, 2+ times a week and 5+ drinks per occasion. Students drinking because they like the taste or for enjoyment had the highest odds of drinking 2+ times a week (AOR males taste = 2.66 (2.05, 3.44); AOR males enjoyment = 2.22 (1.74, 2.84); AOR females taste = 2.72 (1.91, 3.85); AOR females enjoyment = 3.59 (2.58, 4.99)). Those drinking for enjoyment or increased confidence had the highest odds of drinking 5+ drinks per occasion (AOR males enjoyment = 2.18 (1.90, 2.51); (AOR males confidence=-1.97 (1.35, 2.88); AOR females enjoyment = 2.37 (2.06, 2.72); AOR females confidence= 2.04 (1.12, 3.71)). Females who drank because of an altercation with a partner had increased odds of drinking 5+ per occasion (AOR = 2.04 (1.32, 3.16). Conclusion: Reasons for consuming alcohol may influence drinking frequency and quantity. Male and female Mexican students report similar reasons with females providing alcohol-related social rationale. Drinking rationales that heighten or protect against misuse and risk need further study

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe different reasons for drinking among drinking groups defined by frequency and quantity of use. Assess the potential impact of understanding reasons for drinking for policy and programmatic services.

Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, Hispanic Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Doctoral Student in Epidemiology at the BUSPH, where I also received my MPH in 2013. I have directed multiple federally funded grants for drug abuse prevention. I am currently a Project Coordinator in the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.