Prevalence and factors associated with health risk behaviours in university students on the north of Minas Gerais

Abstract Objectives To estimate the prevalence of health risk behaviors (HRB) and identify the factors associated with it. Methods Cross-sectional study with a random sample of 902 students, at a public university on the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The variables analyzed were: sociodemographic characteristics, academic and risk behaviors. It was used the crude and adjusted prevalence ratio, estimated by the Poisson model. Results HRB more prevalents: low consumption of fruits and vegetables (98.1%), non-performance of aerobic exercise (71.2%) and irregular preservative use (63.1%). The significant associations were: males with abusive consumption of alcohol (RP=1.53), illegal drugs (RP=2.41) and involvement in fights (RP=2.12); age up to 21 years with involvement in fights (RP=2.77); relashionship status with a partner with involvement in fights (RP=3.03) and irregular use of preservatives (RP=1.59); students from other academic areas with non-performance of aerobic exercise (RP=1.26); economic class A or B with illicit drugs (RP=1.92). Conclusion There were variations in the prevalence of HRB among university students, with emphasis on low fruit and vegetable consumption and smoking. HRB were positively associated with the male gender, up to 21 years, economic class A or B, marital status with partner and students from other undergraduate areas.