ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM A NUTRITION COURSE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the prevalence of alcohol consumption among undergraduate students from a Nutrition Course of a private institution in the city of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. This is a descriptive study conducted between August and September of 2015 and included 152 students of the Nutrition course, over 18 years of both genders (94.7% women and 5.3% men). Two self-administered questionnaires were used. The age range was predominantly between 18 and 24 years (67%). Most of the participants reported being abstinent or low risk users (94.8%). For a minority (5.2%), the use was considered of risk in the last year and 104 (68.4%) said usually skip classes to go to pubs, parties or other events; and two (1.3%) took time off the college, demonstrating a consumption considered harmful, with possible negative consequences. A low-risk alcohol consumption was observed in the majority of students. Therefore, health promotion measures are required to reduce rates or eliminate alcohol abuse even in a small minority, extending this research to other College’s courses to improve the quality of life and school performance of the undergraduate students.