The association between low alcohol use and traffic risk behaviors among Brazilian college students

• Published in: Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) Vol. 46; no. 7; pp. 673 - 679
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Priscila Dib, Cunha, Paulo Jannuzzi, Malbergier, André, do Amaral, Ricardo Abrantes, de Oliveira, Lúcio Garcia, Yang, Jasmine J, de Andrade, Arthur Guerra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2012; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control; Accidents, Traffic - psychology; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcohol use; Automobile driving; Automobile Driving - psychology; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Brazil - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; College drinking; College students; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug use; Employment; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Marital Status; Odds Ratio; Psychiatry; Risk Assessment; Risk behaviors; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Students - psychology; Studies; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Time Factors; Young Adult; Brazil; College drinking; Risk behaviors; Automobile driving
• ISSN: 0741-8329; 1873-6823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2012.08.002

Abstract Although there are a large number of studies focused on binge drinking and traffic risk behaviors (TRB), little is known regarding low levels of alcohol consumption and its association to TRB. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association of low to moderate alcohol intake pattern and TRB in college students in Brazil. 7037 students from a National representative sample were selected under rigorous inclusion criteria. All study participants voluntarily fulfilled a structured, anonymous, and self-questionnaire regarding alcohol and drug use, social-demographic data, and TRB. Alcohol was assessed according to the average number of alcoholic units consumed on standard occasions over the past 12 months. The associations between alcohol intake and TRB were summarized with odds ratio and their confidence interval obtained from logistic regression. Compared with abstainers students who consumed only one alcohol unit had the risk of being a passenger in a car driven by a drunk driver increased by almost four time s, students who reported using five or more units were increased by almost five times the risk of being involved in a car crash. Compared with students who consumed one alcohol unit, the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol increased four times in students using three alcohol units. Age group, use of illicit drugs, employment status, gender, and marital status significantly influenced occurrence of TRB among college students. Our study highlights the potential detrimental effects of low and moderate pattern of alcohol consumption and its relation to riding with an intoxicated driver and other TRB. These data suggest that targeted interventions should be implemented in order to prevent negative consequences due to alcohol use in this population.