Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use and assess its relationship withsocio-environmental, psychological, violent and behavioral factors among a sample of high school students fromLima and Callao, Peru. Methods: We utilized the data from a cross-sectional study conducted by the Yonsei GlobalHealth Center in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Peru office in November2016. The total sample size of this study was 1,477 students. For analysis, we used bivariate and multivariate logisticregression to calculate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals.
Results: The current prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use among adolescents was found to be 24.2% and 12.1%,respectively. Alcohol use was affected by age, friends' alcohol use, experience of physical fighting, and involvementin other risk behaviors (smoking, drug use, and sexual intercourse). Cigarette use was affected by perceivedacademic performance, friends' cigarette use, and involvement in other risk behaviors (drinking, drug use, andsexual intercourse). Furthermore, students who received affection from their parents and whose parents monitoredtheir activities were less likely to report using both alcohol and cigarettes. Conclusion: Alcohol and cigarette useamong Lima and Callao adolescents is affected by socio-environmental, violent and behavioral factors. Alcoholand cigarette use prevention initiatives should promote positive parenting practices, family togetherness, and asupportive school climate. In addition, it is needed to establish peer-led programs that promote behavioral changesin students and strengthen social relations without the presence of alcohol, cigarettes, and other harmfulsubstances.
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