engleski

REGIONAL DIFFERENCIES IN DRINKING HABITS AMONG CROATIAN ADOLESCENTS

For young people contextual factors as behaviour of adults and peers make models and influence many habits, drinking habits included. Especially vulnerable period is early and middle adolescence. Data from international survey ESPAD 1995-2011 were analysed (students aged 15-16, nationally representative sample). Variables of drinking habits and selected problems or consequences of risky drinking were analysed. The frequency of drinking among Croatian adolescents is increasing in the surveyed period, more among females than in males. Selected variables were analysed for both genders regionally (northern, eastern, southern, western, middle region and the City of Zagreb). All drinking parameters were highest in the northern Croatian region, except drunkenness in the past 12 months (higher for both genders in the western region - OR 1, 5, CI 1, 096-1, 984 for the boys ; OR 1, 3, CI 1, 004-1, 754 for the girls) and drunkenness in the past 30 days for the girls (OR 1, 5 ; CI 1, 064-2, 087). Adolescents from southern region had less risky drinking habits for the girls as well for the boys. The lowest probability for the young age of the first drunkenness (13 yrs or less) had girls from eastern region. Boys form the City of Zagreb had less probability for risky drinking for three, and girls for two variables. For those who had drunk alcohol the consequences as problems in school were less probable in the southern region (OR 0, 58, CI 0, 443-0, 752). Problems with the police were more probable in the western region (OR 1, 53, CI 1, 149-2, 037) and necessity of the hospital treatment more probable in the western region (OR 1, 83, CI 1, 072-3, 121) Drinking habits among adolescents are influenced by the peer group but reflected also the contextual environment. Preventive programs should therefore been created aiming at all stakeholders involved in the behavioural process, including education, availability, traffic measures, advertisement and pricing policy.

adolescents; problem drinking; risk behavior

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