Citation

Baška T, Madarasová-Gecková A, Bašková M, Krajčovič A. Public Health 2016; 139: 203-208.

Affiliation

Institute of Medical Education in English, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.puhe.2016.08.003

PMID

27616186

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze selected indicators of alcohol use (lifetime use, initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age, weekly use, beverage preferences, initiation of drunkenness at ≤13 years of age and lifetime drunkenness) in adolescents in Slovakia from 2006 to 2014. STUDY DESIGN: The Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) study is a cross-sectional questionnaire study.

METHODS: A standardized uniform questionnaire was used in representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. In Slovakia, the HBSC study was undertaken in 2006 (n = 3972), 2010 (n = 5089) and 2014 (n = 4369).

RESULTS: Over the study period, decreases were observed in weekly drinking (from 34.3% to 21.0% in 15-year-old boys and from 22.1% to 11.9% in 15-year-old girls), lifetime drinking and initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age. In terms of beverage preferences, the reduction in beer consumption was most notable. Approximately one-third of respondents got drunk for the first time at ≤13 years of age, and this remained consistent throughout the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: The declining trend in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia may reflect a progressive change in the social environment and is attributable, at least in part, to policy improvements such as pricing and stricter legislation and enforcement.

Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en