Drug use and antisocial behavior among adolescents attending public schools in Brazil

Abstract

Objective There has been a growing interest in patterns of contraceptive use among adolescents, due, in particular, to the social relevance attached to pregnancy in this age group. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods among female and male adolescent students. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted, by means of self-applied questionnaires, among 4,774 students ranging from 11 to 19 years of age. Prevalence with respect to the use of contraceptive methods during the first experience of sexual intercourse as well as the most recent one was calculated both separately, that is, for each of these events, and in conjunction as a measure of Rev Saúde Pública 2003; 37(5) Fatores associados ao uso de contraceptivos www.fsp.usp.br/rsp Almeida MCC et al consistent use. Logistic regression was carried out for simultaneous analysis of factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods and in order to calculate adjusted measures. Results Among the 1664 students who reported being sexually active, the factors positively associated with the consistent use of contraceptive methods among male students included a) postponing their first experience of sexual intercourse and interaction with a stable partner, b) the family as a potential supplier of contraceptive methods, and c) access to health services. On the other hand, among female students factors positively associated with the consistent use of contraceptive methods included a) recent sexual initiation, and b) having a father as their source of information regarding sexuality, contraception and STD/Aids prevention. Pregnancy was reported by 6.4% of the boys and 18.1% of the girls, its absence was associated with the consistent use of contraceptives by them (the girls) (Odds Ratio=3.83; 2.06-7.15) Conclusions These results confirm the complexity of determining contraceptive behavior among adolescents and therefore reinforce the need to include multi-dimensional aspects of this theme in order to ensure the efficacy of sex education programs.

Incidence of Binge Drinking in a Cohort of University Students of the South-East Region of Brazil, 2010-2011

“…The average age of onset of use of alcoholic beverages observed in this study (15.7 years) is similar to that encountered in the National Survey I on the Use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Amongst University Students (15.3 years), and in studies undertaken with Brazilian students in secondary education [1,3,10,11]. The early age of experimentation with this substance and the time interval over which these individuals consume alcoholic beverages (73.2% had consumed alcohol for more than 2.6 years) indicate that the alcoholic habit precedes university entry.…”

Avaliação Psicológica de Jovens com Comportamentos Desviantes

“…Concomitantemente, há outras especificidades a considerar nos jovens com condutas desviantes. Desde logo deve averiguar-se a eventual presença de consumo de substâncias e, se for o caso, a possível toxicodependência, bem como outros problemas associados, de que são exemplos os comportamentos antissociais (Nardi, Cunha, Bizarro, & Dell'Aglio, 2012). Acresce, ainda, a prática de delitos (Passini, 2012), a existência de contactos/problemas com o sistema de justiça (Taxman, 2014), as ações violentas e até as práticas sexuais de risco (Lyman, 2014) e em que é empregue a violência (Scully, 1994), sobretudo em associação a estados de intoxicação por consumo de determinadas substâncias (Anglin, Spears, & Hutson, 1997).…”

Uso de álcool entre adolescentes e relações com fatores sociais e pessoais

“…A tolerância em relação ao uso de bebidas alcoólicas expõe os jovens a outros riscos, uma vez que se considera um período de formação de alguns sistemas de transmissão neuronal, o que predispõem a vulnerabilidade para a dependência e o uso abusivo quando há uma utilização precoce dessa substância 30 . Além disso estudos mostram que o uso abusivo de álcool pode ser associado a outros problemas comportamentais e de saúde 1,6,7,8,27,31,32 , podendo assim tornar o indivíduo mais vulnerável a outras situações de risco para o desenvolvimento saudável.…”