Prevalence and Risk of Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption in Basic Education Students in Three Public Schools in El Salvador

ABSTRACT BODY: Introduction: In El Salvador, according to studies the most consumed legal drugs are alcohol, tobacco and cannabis that is illegal, which is according to studies conducted in various parts of the world. In the country's school-age adolescents in seventh to ninth grades they are very likely to be convinced to consume some of the above drugs, which could affect the performance and behavior of students. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors and protection in alcohol and tobacco in students from seventh to ninth grade three school center in the city of San Salvador, Republic of El Salvador. Methods: The design of study was a cross design study with an explanatory approach, the study sample was 169 students obtained through a convenience sample since a homogeneous population of students had. The information obtained was analyzed descriptively, determining frequencies, confidence intervals, gender relations and age groups regarding the variables under study. Independence test Chi Square test was applied and bivariate using logistic regression to determine risk factors or protection in alcohol or tobacco, considering such tests a significance level of 0.05. Results: The average age of students was 15.5 years with a DS of 1.53. The prevalence of alcohol once in life was 45.6% for the last 12 months 16.0% and for the last 30 days was 14.2%. In the case of tobacco was obtained for a once in a lifetime consumption of 41.1% for the last 12 months was 21.3% and for the last 30 days was 14.2%; in both cases the male showed higher percentages than the female. The most consumed beverage was beer and the form of tobacco consumption was smoking. Most students commented that alcohol and tobacco is a big risk. For different consumption patterns of tobacco were detect 13 factors of risk and 4 for protection; in the case of alcohol was detected 5 factors of risk and 6 of protection. Conclusions: Alcohol and tobacco in elementary students must look very carefully because having found high percentages can induce these teens become addicted to these substances.