Cross-national analysis of alcohol consumption patterns, point-of-sale density,and implementation challenges of a community-based prevention program for adolescents in Brazil and Mozambique

• Grant number: 24/07860-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Zila van der Meer Sanchez Dutenhefner
• Grantee: Cardenito Mario Colher
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/03145-9 - Reducing alcohol use among adolescents through a community-based multicomponent intervention: an implementation research approach, AP.TEM

Abstract

Adolescent alcohol consumption is widely recognized as a significant risk factor for various diseases and social problems. Studies indicate that early alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of developing dependency in adulthood, as well as compromising the cognitive and emotional development of young people. The adverse impacts include greater vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, behavioral problems, violence, and other social issues that hinder the healthy growth and development of adolescents, in addition to negatively affecting their academic life. The prevalence of alcohol consumption among adolescents is influenced by a complex interaction of cultural norms, social behaviors, and the effectiveness of local public policies. Consequently, the effectiveness of community interventions aimed at preventing adolescent alcohol use can vary significantly between different regions and countries, depending on different cultural norms and environmental and social elements. Therefore, this study proposal intends to develop three action axes. The first axis deals with mapping the density of alcohol sales points around schools, investigating how proximity and access to these points affect alcohol consumption among adolescents in Brazil and Mozambique. The second axis addresses the implementation barriers of prevention programs in both countries, with a comparative analysis that identifies specific and common challenges, offering a detailed understanding of how sociocultural and economic factors influence the effectiveness of these interventions. The third axis investigates the patterns of consumption and predictors of alcohol use among adolescents, comparing data between Brazil and Mozambique to provide insights into culturally specific risk and protective factors, as well as those that are universal. This study is an essential part of the binational co-creation process of a community intervention for the prevention of alcohol and other drug use among adolescents. The application of established methodologies from implementation science, based on the implementation cycle proposed by the WHO, will form the basis for evaluating implementation barriers and factors associated with different patterns of alcohol consumption. The mapping, in turn, will utilize georeferencing through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which enable precise visualization and spatial analysis of data, enhancing the project with sophisticated methodologies seldom employed in alcohol prevention studies in low- and middle-income countries. The study aims to ensure that the proposed interventions can be effectively translated into practice, sustainably promoting the well-being of adolescents.