Drinking patterns and alcohol related injuries in Argentinean university students.

CREMONTE, MARIANA; PELTZER, RAQUEL; UBEDA, CLOTILDE; SANTÁNGELO, PABLO; BRANDARIZ, ROMINA A.

Londres

Conferencia; 10th Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion; 2010

Conference Centre

Objective: To explore the association between alcohol consumption patterns and alcohol-related injuries in Argentinean university students.Methods: Data were collected from a systematic sample (n=715) of students in Mar del Plata National University, Argentina. All students taking certain mandatory courses were self-administered a questionnaire. A factorial analysis of multiple correspondences and hierarchic classification analysis were performed. Active variables were usual quantity and frequency of drinking, and preferred beverage; age, gender and referring an alcohol-related injury were taken as illustrative.Results: From the factorial map and dendogram a six class typology of drinking patterns was obtained. Two of these drinking patterns were associated with self-referring an alcohol-related injury. The first of these was drinking weekly more than three drinks per occasion, mostly beer. Those in this class tended to be younger. The other pattern associated with alcohol-related injuries was drinking on a daily basis at least four drinks per occasion. Those in this group tended to be male. Two other patterns were associated with not referring an alcohol-related injury. One of them was having one drink per occasion on a monthly or annual basis. Students in this group tended to be female. The other, was drinking two drinks per occasion, mostly wine; students in this group tended to be somewhat older.Conclusion: Given the lack of similar studies in the region, the description presented might contribute to the understanding of alcohol related injuries in this context, and guide the design of prevention strategies.