Association between socio-demographic factors and cardiovascular health risk behaviors of Brazilian adolescents aged 13 to 17 years: data from the 2015 National School-Based Health Survey.

Abstract

Objective: to analyze association between sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular health risk behaviors of Brazilian adolescents aged 13-17 years.

Methods: we used data on 10,926 adolescents from the 2015 National School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE) to verify associations between socio-demographic variables and consumption of unhealthy foods, insufficient physical activity, and experimentation with alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, using Poisson regression.

Results: associations were found between consumption of candies, insufficient physical activity and experimentation with alcoholic beverages and the female sex ([PRa=1.37 - 95%CI 1.25;1.50], [PRa=1.32 - 95%CI 1.26;1.38] and [PRa=1.05 - 95%CI 1.00;1.10]); soda consumption with the male sex (PRa=1.17 - 95%CI 1.03;1.31) and higher maternal schooling (PRa=1.14 - 95%CI 1.01;1.31); cigarette experimentation with the male sex (PRa=1.12 - 95%CI 1.00;1.25), being 16-17 years old (PRa=1.51 - 95%CI 1.33;1.72), not living with father (PRa=1.36 - 95%CI 1.20;1.53) or mother (PRa=1.25 - 95%CI 1.13;1.37).

Conclusion: cardiovascular health risk behaviors influenced by sociodemographic characteristics should be taken into consideration in Brazilian adolescent health promotion.