[Alcohol consumption among students in a basic health area in Córdoba]

To determine alcohol consumption amongst schoolchildren, and to discover the factors which are associated with the said consumption.

A cross-sectional study, by means of a health questionnaire administered to 548 schoolchildren in the 6th and 8th years of Primary Education (EGB) in schools within the Basic Health Area of Cordoba, with a median age of 12.4 years old (limits at 10 and 15 years old). Data were gathered on the consumption of alcohol by schoolchildren and in their social environment, as well as other variables in the lives of schoolchildren.

43.7% (interval of confidence at 95% -IC95%: 39.4-47.9) have tried alcohol, 3.8% (IC95% 2.5-5.9) drink regularly, while 26.8% (IC95% 23.2-30.8) drink occasionally. By means of logical regression analysis we found a connection between the consumption of alcohol and increasing age (Odds Ratio -OR: 0.83; IC95% 0.07-0.98), being male (OR: 1.78; IC95% 1.16-2.73), the consumption of alcohol by older brothers or sisters (OR: 2.25; IC95% 1.35-3.75), the consumption of medicines to treat nervousness (OR: 5.33; IC95%: 1.26-22.5), poor educational performance (OR: 1.002; IC95% 1.0-1.005), the consumption of tobacco (OR: 4.55; IC95% 2.4-8.61) and the feeling of loneliness (OR: 1.41; IC95% 1.01-1.97).

Although the number of schoolchildren who try alcohol is low in comparison with other areas, the percentage of current drinkers is very similar. It would seem that older brothers and sisters have an important influence on starting consumption. The profile of a school age child who drinks corresponds to a male, a smoker, and having feelings of loneliness.