RESUMEN
Objective: Adolescents are exposed to a wide range of high-risk health behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the high-risk health behaviors of adolescents in an Iranian adolescent population and gender differences. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited high school students in Yazd city in center of Iran. Schools were randomly selected. In each school, all selected classes were included. Sampling in each class was census. The study investigated self-reported high-risk health behaviors. Students completed the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), an anonymous, validated questionnaire. Results: 2420 students participated in this study (52.5% male). The age range was 12-19 years. Daily consumption of ≥1 serving of fruit and vegetables per day was reported by 77.4% and 49.5% of respondents, respectively. Adequate physical activity was reported by only 18.4% of adolescents, and significantly less frequently by girls than boys (p < 0.001). 11.8% were current smokers (M/F ratio: 2.6), and 20.5% (M/F ratio: 1.5) were ever used hookah. The prevalence of ever alcohol and substance abuse was 15.5% and 8.8%, respectively. The prevalence of tobacco and substance use was significantly higher in participants' boys than in girls (p < 0.001). Males were over twice more likely to report frequent fighting in the past 12 months than girls. Overall, girls reported more parental supervision than boys (82.1% vs. 73.4%) and parental monitoring (90.6% vs. 86.8%), while boys reported higher levels of awareness over leisure activities than girls (65.8% vs. 58.4%). Conclusions: High-risk health behaviors are more common in boys than girls. Health policymakers should use these results in prioritizing and designing health interventions to promote youth health. Further studies are recommended to identify the factors influencing the prevalence of these behaviors.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the Disabled-adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of Road Traffic Accidents in patients referred to hospitals in Yazd Province, central Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Yazd province during 2010. To calculate the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature death and to calculate the incidence of non-fatal injuries and Years Lost due to Disability (YLD), the data were collected from Yazd death registration system and hospital records. The causes of death and nature of non-fatal injuries were classified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). We estimated Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) on the guidelines of the Global Burden of Disease Study (discount rate: 0.03, age weight: 0.04, constant age weight correction factor: 0.165). Age and sex composition was taken from the National Statistical Center for the year 2010. RESULTS: During 2009, 483 deaths were caused by traffic accidents in Yazd Province, 382 (79.09%) of which were males, and 101 (20.91%) were females. The mortality rates for males and females were 70.98 and 20.15 in 100,000, respectively. The years of life lost due to premature deaths were 15.84/1000 in men and 4.75/1,000 in women. Total YLLs caused by traffic accidents were 10,908 years. The injuries caused by traffic accidents were calculated as 15.21 and 3.73/1,000 in males and females, respectively. The total YLDs was calculated 1.51/1,000. The total burden of Road Traffic Injuries in Yazd province was 12478 years (DALYs), 87.41% of which was due to premature death, and 12.59% was related to disability. Also, 78.32% was lost in males. The age specific peak of burden was in 15-29 year. CONCLUSION: This study showed that traffic accidents in Yazd impose a high burden. It seems that it is one of the health sector priorities. It is recommended to revise laws on use of motorcycles, especially on helmet use for motorcyclists, enforce strict laws in residential areas, and review social determinant affecting the incidence of such accidents.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Child abuse is a serious social health problem all over the world with important adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to extend our understanding of the relation between mental disorders and child abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey on 700 students in secondary schools using multiple cluster sampling in Yazd, Iran in 2013. We applied 2 self reported questionnaires: DASS (depression anxiety stress scales)-42 for assessing mental disorders (anxiety, stress and depression) and a standard self-reported valid and reliable questionnaire for recording child abuse information in neglect, psychological, physical and sexual domains. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software. P-values < 0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: There was a statically significant correlation between mental disorder and child abuse score (Spearman rho: 0.2; P-value < 0.001). The highest correlations between mental disorders and child abuse were found in psychological domain, Spearman's rho coefficients were 0.46, 0.41 and 0.36 for depression, anxiety and stress respectively (P-value < 0.001). Based on the results of logistic regression for mental disorder, females, last born adolescents and subjects with drug or alcohol abuser parents had mental disorder odds of 3, 0.4 and 1.9 times compared to others; and severe psychological abuse, being severely neglected and having sexual abuse had odds 90, 1.6 and 1.5 respectively in another model. CONCLUSIONS: Programming for mandatory reporting of child abuse by physicians and all health care givers e.g. those attending schools or health centers, in order to prevent or reduce its detrimental effects is useful and success in preventing child abuse could lead to reductions in the prevalence of mental disorders.
