Modos de vida de estudantes em uma universidade pública: um estudo epidemiológico seccional

Abstract

This study aimed to epidemiologically describe changes occurring in undergraduates’ modes of life at Federal University of Lavras. This university is taken as a case study of a public, country and expanding one. Modes of life’s concept includes nutritional status, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use, which are priority risk factors for the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Cross-sectional observational design was applied, with data collected between November 2015 and March 2016, corresponding to the second academic semester of 2015. Sample of 1723 undergraduate students answered a structured questionnaire that allowed the processing of socioeconomic variables, observed as exposures (or covariates, depending on the level of analysis), and five components of modes of life’s concept: overweight, physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol use. Aiming determination of failure time, each student’s enrollment was processed, whose first five digits allowed calculation of time spent in the university since joining it. Univariate statistical analysis were used to describe variables, unicausal analysis to identify associations, multiple regression to construct predictive models for each outcome, survival analysis to answer key time-related research questions, and multivariate analysis seeking holistic approach to understand entire health-disease process by conceiving it as a social one. Results indicated significant increases in all risk factors for non-communicable diseases’ occurrence, since students joined the university. Incidence of 5% is expected for poor nutrition in 36 days of university stay, alcohol use in 38 days, smoking in approximately four months, overweight at the end of the second academic semester, and physical inactivity in approximately a year and a half as undergraduate. Models are presented to predict expected times for any incidences. Three different social groups were clustered, allowing description of risk factors adopting multivariate approach of socioeconomic variables. Students in the lower-income group, predominantly black or brown in color, whose parents had lower levels of schooling and employment, followers of some religion, and working while studying were exposed to develop risk modes of life earlier than the others. In conclusion, study population is more exposed to risk for non-communicable diseases when compared to other universities (especially urban ones) and to Brazilian society. These risks occurred earlier in presence of socioeconomic characteristics typical of lower income people. Proposals to combat diagnosed problems are presented, especially with regard to student assistance, teaching, extension and research policies.