Prevalence of alcohol consumption and the associated factors among students at a Brazilian public university: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization estimated that approximately 43% of the global population consumes alcohol, with an average annual consumption of 4.6 L per person. However, little is known about the factors influencing alcohol intake among students. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the factors that influence alcohol intake in students at a Brazilian public institution. DESIGN AND SETTING This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university in the Brazilian Midwest. METHODS In total, 348 Brazilian university students (124 men and 224 women; convenience sample) were recruited. The alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) was used to examine alcohol use, the habitual physical activity questionnaire (Baecke) was used to assess physical activity levels, and the Brazil Economic Classification Standard Criterion was used to assess socioeconomic status. A generalized linear model (GLM) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and odds ratio (OR) estimation was constructed using the Tweedie probability distribution and log link function, with AUDIT questionnaire scores as the dependent variable. RESULTS The prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption was 18.7% (9.8% in men and 8.9% in women). The GLM analysis indicated that being single and attending an agricultural science course increased the likelihood of excessive alcohol intake; however, living with family or alone had a protective effect. Being single and pursuing a course in agricultural science increased the likelihood of binge drinking. CONCLUSION Universities and families can use the study findings to develop initiatives aimed at enhancing students' understanding of the harmful effects of alcohol, particularly among agricultural science students.