Prevalence and associated factors of binge drinking among high school students in Acapulco, Mexico: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Youth binge drinking is an important health problem with notable psychosocial consequences. This study estimated the prevalence of and identified factors associated with binge drinking among high school students in Acapulco, Mexico. A cross-sectional study included 5177 students from five high schools. After informed consent, participants received a supervised self-administered questionnaire that collated demographic, socioeconomic, and psycho-affective variables. Bivariate and cluster-adjusted multivariate analysis identified factors associated with binge drinking; the odds ratio adjusted by cluster (ORa) with the Mantel–Haenszel procedure and 99% confidence intervals (CIs) cluster-adjusted (99% CIcla). Period prevalence of binge drinking in the last year was 17.9% (925/5177). Nighttime leisure activities modified the key associations. Among youth with nighttime-leisure, risk factors included history of attempted suicide (ORa 1.82), employee and students (ORa 1.90); and both parents consumed alcohol (ORa 1.47). Risk factors among the group without nocturnal leisure included: age 17 years or more (ORa 1.75); lower grade average ≤8.5 (ORa 1.71); and having a partner (ORa 1.43). Understanding this constellation can help to strengthen local actions aimed at preventing binge drinking and reducing its impact.