Adolescent drivers in Brazil: prevalence and associated factors estimated from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012).

INTRODUCTION There is evidence that adolescent drivers can represent risks to themselves, to passengers and to society in general. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of history of driving among adolescent students (under the age of 18) and associated factors, in Brazil, in 2012. METHODS This study analyzed data from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), held in 2012. The prevalence of history (at least once in the past 30 days) of driving motorized vehicles (cars, motorcycles or boats) by students aged less than 18 years old, as well as crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) related to frequent driving (four or more times in the past 30 days) as the outcome, were estimated. RESULTS Among the 106,621 interviewed students, 27.0% (95%CI 22.9 - 31.5) reported having driven a motorized vehicle, and 12.9% (95%CI 10.0 - 16.5) reported being a frequent driver (four or more times). Factors associated with frequent driving were: older age, male, mothers with higher schooling, living in a household with fewer members, living in the North and Northeast regions, living with someone who has a motorcycle or a car, when their school is not located in a state-capital, drinking alcohol and not wearing a seatbelt. CONCLUSION The higher prevalence of history of driving among adolescent students in Brazil and the identified associated factors might help authorities to prioritize policies and to reinforce the adherence to traffic legislation among specific groups.