Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Effectiveness of a school‑based nutrition education program on waist circumference and dietary behavior among overweight adolescents in Puducherry, India

. Sumathy Ponnambalam; . Soundararajan Palanisamy; . Rajeswari Singaravelu; . Hemamalini Arambakkam Janardhanan

Volume 12, Issue 9 , October 2022, , Pages 1-5

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The influence of western lifestyle such as high‑caloric dense food and sedentarylifestyle has a great influence on Indian children, and the current prevalence of childhood ...  Read More BACKGROUND: The influence of western lifestyle such as high‑caloric dense food and sedentarylifestyle has a great influence on Indian children, and the current prevalence of childhood overweightin India ranges between 4% and 22%. The primary aim of the study was to determine the changein growth parameters (waist circumference) as well as dietary behaviors at baseline and at theend of first, third, sixth, and ninth months among overweight adolescent girls and boys following aschool‑based nutritional education program.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 2019 in four urban schools at Puducherrywhich were randomly assigned to study and control groups by lottery method, and 140 overweightchildren aged 11–14 years were in the study group and 140 children were in the control group.Simple random sampling method was used to select the samples A nutrition education programhighlighting the importance of balanced nutrition and the ill effects of obesity was imparted to studentsin the study group through a PowerPoint presentation. As a means of reinforcement, posters andpamphlets were distributed. The waist circumference and the mean calorie, protein, and fat intakewere assessed at baseline and at the first, third, sixth, and ninth months and compared betweengroups using independent t test.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in waist circumference in the study groupwhen compared to the control group at P < 0.05. A significant decrease in the calorie intake atP < 0.001 and fat intake at P < 0.01 was observed in the study group. The protein intake in the studygroup increased at the end of 9 months, which was significant at P < 0.001.CONCLUSION: School‑based nutritional education program has been found to be a successfulintervention in controlling unnecessary weight gain among overweight adolescents.

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Perceived behavioral control regarding regular physical activity and healthy diet: An observational study among school‑going adolescents in an urban area of West Bengal, India

. Sweety Suman Jha; . Madhumita Dobe; . Chandrashekhar Taklikar; . Arista Lahiri

Volume 12, Issue 7 , August 2022, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Healthy children are the foundation for a healthy and developing nation. Perceivedbehavioral control (PBC), comprising control belief and perceived power, is a person’s ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Healthy children are the foundation for a healthy and developing nation. Perceivedbehavioral control (PBC), comprising control belief and perceived power, is a person’s perception ofthe ease or difficulty of performing the behavior of interest. For facilitating regular physical activity andregular healthy dietary practices among the adolescents, PBC is an important construct to developand implement appropriate interventions. The aim is to assess PBC to perform regular physicalactivity and regular healthy dietary practices and measure their statistical relationship among theschool‑going adolescents in an urban area in West Bengal.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A school‑based cross‑sectional study was conducted among 251adolescents aged 12–16 years after taking consent and assent for participation in the study. Datawere collected with self‑administered questionnaire on sociodemographic variables and the twodomains of PBC, i.e., control beliefs and perceived power, related to regular physical activity andregular healthy dietary practices. Each PBC total score was calculated by multiplying control beliefscore and perceived power score for each respondent. Partial correlation coefficient was calculatedbetween regular healthy dietary practices and regular physical activity.RESULTS: Among the total 251 responses analyzed, 34.7% and 27.5% students belonged to agegroup 14 and 15, respectively. It was observed that the mean (± standard deviation) score of PBCregarding regular healthy dietary practices was 100.7 (±27.7) and for regular physical activity was106.0 (±21.4). The correlation between PBC of regular healthy dietary practices and regular physicalactivity was 0.421 and was statistically significant.CONCLUSION: In case PBC score over any behavior is higher, behavioral intention and ultimatelychances of performing that particular behavior increases. Designing appropriate school‑based healthpromotion strategies can lead to healthier children fostering regular healthy dietary practices andregular physical activity in their homes and communities.

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Is ignorance of the weekly iron and folic acid scheme among adolescents the deciding factor for its suboptimal utilization and ineffectiveness? A cross‑sectional study

. Surya Bali; . Yash Alok

Volume 12, Issue 5 , June 2022, , Pages 1-8

Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: Targeting the huge burden of adolescent anemia, the Weekly Iron and Folic acidSupplementation (WIFS) was launched by the Government of India. Few studies have been doneto ...  Read More INTRODUCTION: Targeting the huge burden of adolescent anemia, the Weekly Iron and Folic acidSupplementation (WIFS) was launched by the Government of India. Few studies have been doneto assess the effective functioning of the program since its inception. The present study was doneto assess the knowledge WIFS among adolescents of Madhya Pradesh and the associated factors.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was done in a total of six districts(3 districts where the national adolescent program was implemented and 3 districts where it was not)of Madhya Pradesh. Multistage stratified random sampling technique was used for the enrollment of3213 adolescent boys and girls, and a prestructured and validated tool was used to collect paperlessdata. Ethical approval and consent from the participants were obtained. Statistical analysis wasperformed using SPSS v21.RESULTS: It was observed that the knowledge of WIFS was more among adolescent girls (29.3%)as compared to adolescent boys (14.1%). More of the adolescent girls received Iron and folic acidtablets as compared to adolescent boys (60.8% girls vs. 24.1% boys). Mostly, the adolescents gotIron tablets from school followed by Anganwadi and PHC/CHC. Girls, rural location, literacy, belowpoverty line status, knowledge of anemia, adolescents who got iron and albendazole tablets, andadequate consumption of iron tablets (>4) were associated with higher knowledge of WIFS.CONCLUSION: The knowledge of WIFS was found to be less in adolescent boys. There is a hint ofthe fact that effective execution of the program among its beneficiaries leads to an automatic increasedknowledge of the program, at least among the beneficiaries. Thus, an indirect but significant indirectfinding is that the nationwide WIFS program needs to be put to greater focus among the adolescentboys, apart from its major focus on the female gender among most age groups.

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Promotion of osteoporosis‑preventive behaviors in adolescents: Application of protection motivation theory

. Somayyeh Khazaeian; . Fariba Shahraki Sanavi; . Hossein Ansari; . Fatemeh Mirshekari

Volume 11, Issue 11 , December 2021, , Pages 1-9

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is considered a health problem that can be simply prevented bylifestyle modifications in adolescence. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is considered a health problem that can be simply prevented bylifestyle modifications in adolescence. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effectsof protection motivation theory (PMT)‑based training on osteoporosis‑preventive behaviors in femalehigh school students in Zahedan, Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present quasi‑experimental study was performed on 240 femalehigh school students who were selected by a multistage sampling technique in Zahedan in2019–2020. To collect the data, a multipart questionnaire was distributed among the participantsin three stages, namely at the baseline, immediately, and 2 months after the intervention. Thisinstrument consisted of demographic information, socioeconomic status, knowledge, PMT constructs,and preventive behaviors. The intervention group was subjected to educational content. Thecollected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22) by descriptive and analytical tests(i.e., Chi‑square, independent t‑test, and ANOVA).RESULTS: Based on the results, the intervention and control groups showed no significantdifference in terms of the mean score of knowledge, theoretical constructs, and preventive behaviorsat the baseline (P > 0.05). However, the two groups were significantly different in terms of thementioned variables immediately and 2 months after the intervention (P = 0.001). Mean score ofpreventive behaviors, the two groups also demonstrated a significant difference (i.e., calcium intake,physical activity, and sunlight exposure) 2 months after the intervention, compared to before theintervention. (P = 0.001).CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study were indicative of the PMT effectiveness, whichcan, therefore, be used as a framework for designing educational programs regarding osteoporosisprevention.

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Prevalence of water pipe smoking and associated risk factors among female adolescents

. Saeed Bashirian; . Majid Barati; . Manoochehr Karami; . Behrooz Hamzeh; . Elahe Ezati

Volume 11, Issue 8 , September 2021, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The prevalence of water pipe smoking is increasing among young people, butthere are limited data on its use among adolescents in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate ...  Read More BACKGROUND: The prevalence of water pipe smoking is increasing among young people, butthere are limited data on its use among adolescents in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate theprevalence of WP smoking and associated risk factors among female adolescents in Western Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted in schools. It included 1302middle school (48.1%) and high school (51.9%) female students (grades 7–12) recruited throughstage random sampling and conducted in 2019 in the western city of Kermanshah, Iran. The datacollection tool was a researcher‑made questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses and descriptivestatistics were executed using SPSS version 22.RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) ages of the students and the ages when the participantsstarted WP smoking were 15.22 ± 1.85 and 13.64 (1.64), respectively. Nearly 32.2% had a singleexperience of WP smoking during their lifetime and 20.4% were current consumers of WP. Mostof the subjects smoked WPs at their friends’ home (45.8%) and with their friends (47.4%). Thesignificantly important factors that affect WP smoking in these age groups are the father’s andmother’s occupation, family size, living with others, father’s education, having a friend who smokesWPs, friends’ encouragement to smoke WP, and being in a family that smoke WPs.CONCLUSIONS: Considering the increasing popularity of WP among adolescent females and itsincreasing prevalence, the results showed that Water pipe smoking with friends played a key role inWP smoking among female adolescents. There is a need to design interventional studies to increasepeople’s skills and to design and implement programs to prevent water pipe.

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Impact of mobile phone dependence on behavior and academic performance of adolescents in selected schools of Uttarakhand, India

. Mahendra Singh Yadav; . Malar Kodi S; . Rupinder Deol

Volume 11, Issue 8 , September 2021, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Mobile phones are one of the excellent gifts of technology in the 21st century, whichis most popular among adolescents. Today, mobile phones have infinite resources that ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Mobile phones are one of the excellent gifts of technology in the 21st century, whichis most popular among adolescents. Today, mobile phones have infinite resources that have multiplebenefits and applications. Its excessive use may impact adolescents in the form of behavioral changesand diminish the academic performance. This study explores the relationship between mobile phoneusage with behavioral modifications and educational achievement among adolescents.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was conducted amongadolescents (n = 285 –male‑210, female‑75) at selected schools of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.The test of mobile dependence was used to assess the mobile phone dependence, and a behavioralLikert scale to evaluate the behavioral changes through the self‑report method. The academicperformance was observed by school records; percentage of the last two examination results wasconsidered. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.RESULTS: The study shows that 156 (54.70%) participants had a low mobile dependency,191 (67%) participants had negative behavioral changes, and 125 (43.90%) participants had shownreduced academic performance due to overuse of the mobile phone. A significant relationshipwas seen between mobile phone dependency with behavioral changes (P < 0.001) and academicachievement (P < 0.035) seen among adolescents. Regression analysis predicted 49% of thedifferences among adolescents with selected variables due to the overuse of mobile phones.CONCLUSION: The study concluded that mobile dependency changes adolescent’s behavior aswell as reduces their academic performance due to the overuse of the mobile phone.

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Backpack improper use causes musculoskeletal injuries in adolescents: A systematic review

. Razie Toghroli; . Leila Reisy; . Morteza Mansourian; . Farbod Ebadi Fard Azar; . Arash Ziapour; . Nafiul Mehedi; . Nazila NeJhaddadgar

Volume 11, Issue 5 , June 2021, , Pages 1-8

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: This research is one of the very few studies, which seeks a focalized examinationto observe the effects of the backpack on the teenager students. Adolescents prefer rucksacks ...  Read More BACKGROUND: This research is one of the very few studies, which seeks a focalized examinationto observe the effects of the backpack on the teenager students. Adolescents prefer rucksacks asone of their favorite school bags during their school studies. This study inspects how knapsacksgradually bring changes as injuries in the bodies of school‑going adolescents. There are amplestudies in the past literature, which evidence the injuries of backpack among adolescents, such asbackache, neck pain, and shoulder pain. The principal objective of this study is to determine theeffects of backpacks on musculoskeletal injuries among school‑going adolescents based on previousstudies support in this research field.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review study selected observational studies from the pastliterature indexed in the databases of Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL during 1999–2020. This review focused on the keywords of “Backpack,” “Musculoskeletal Injuries,” and “Adolescent”from MESH and selected 14 out of 210 articles based on the research objective. According to theCrombie Checklist, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and investigating the quality of the report, thisreview focused on literature evidence to the field under investigation.RESULTS: Based on the chosen 14 articles, the findings of the present review indicated twooutcomes by considering the impact of the backpack on musculoskeletal injuries and pains amongadolescents. The results of the review studies specified that there was a statistically significantpositive relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and pain using a backpackamong most of the male and female adolescents. The findings also stipulate that injuries and painintensity among female adolescents were higher than the male students.CONCLUSION: The results of this review study specified that improper use of the backpack,which exceeded the standard weight, caused chorionic pain and injuries between both genders ofadolescents. The generalizability of the results is suitable for this review study.

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Breakfast consumption‑related perceived behaviour control and subjective norms among girl adolescents: Applying an indirect measurement

. Nasrin Shirvani; . Mohtasham Ghaffari; . Sakineh Rakhshanderou

Volume 11, Issue 3 , March 2021, , Pages 1-8

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Healthy nutrition in childhood and adolescence is important for growth anddevelopment. Breakfast is the most important meal during a day, and many studies have linkedeating ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Healthy nutrition in childhood and adolescence is important for growth anddevelopment. Breakfast is the most important meal during a day, and many studies have linkedeating breakfast to good health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subjective normsand perceived behavioural control of Iranian teenage girls about breakfast consumption and itsrelated factors in 2018.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive‑analytical study, 320 female students wereenrolled using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the validityand reliability of which were evaluated. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS16 software andANOVA and t independent tests.RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between students’ sleep duration and the peoplewith whom they eat breakfast with the Motivation to Comply (P = 0.009), (P = 0.001) and subjectivenorms (P = 0.004), (P = 0.001) as well as between the people with whom they eat breakfast andnormative beliefs (P = 0.05). There was a significant relationship between father’s job and controlbeliefs (P = 0.03) and perceived behavioural control (P = 0.04), between household size with perceivedbehavioural control (P = 0.05), between sleep duration and perceived power (P < 0.001), andperceived behavioural control (P = 0.03), between the people with whom they eat breakfast with controlbeliefs (P < 0.001), perceived power (P < 0.001), and perceived behavioural control (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Considering the importance of sleep duration for adolescent girls as well as eatingbreakfast with other family members, health policymakers are recommended to pay special attentionto these two factors while designing educational interventions.

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Effect of Information, Education, and Communication activity on health literacy of cardiovascular diseases among school‑going adolescents in Delhi

. Srishti Yadav; . Anita Khokhar

Volume 11, Issue 2 , February 2021, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Heart attack and stroke account for >80% of deaths due to cardio‑vasculardiseases (CVDs) in India. Adolescents are the most susceptible group to adopt risky behaviorscausing ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Heart attack and stroke account for >80% of deaths due to cardio‑vasculardiseases (CVDs) in India. Adolescents are the most susceptible group to adopt risky behaviorscausing CVDs such as use of tobacco and alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy diet. Thisstudy was conducted to assess the health literacy of CVDs such as heart attack and stroke amongschool‑going adolescents and change in health literacy after different information, education, andcommunication (IEC) activities.MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a school‑based interventional study conducted in two schoolsamong students of classes 6, 7, and 8. The educational interventions were done in the form ofpamphlets, posters, and lectures on heart attack and stroke. The postintervention data were collected2 weeks after the first intervention and 3 months after the last intervention.RESULTS: There were a higher proportion of students with satisfactory level of knowledge of heartattack and stroke both at 2 weeks and 3 months after the interventions in both the schools, and theresults were statistically significant (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The health literacy regarding CVDs has improved when compared to baseline afterIEC activities among school‑going adolescents.

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Effectiveness of life skills health education program: A quasi‑experimental study among school students of South India

. Preeti Tiwari; . Poonam Ramesh Naik; . Abhay Subhashrao Nirgude; . Arijit Datta

Volume 10, Issue 12 , December 2020, , Pages 1-5

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a vital stage of growth and development; however, many adolescentsdo die prematurely due to accidents, suicide, violence, poor mental stability, depression, ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a vital stage of growth and development; however, many adolescentsdo die prematurely due to accidents, suicide, violence, poor mental stability, depression, and otherillnesses that are either preventable or treatable. Life skills are important for the promotion of well‑beingof adolescents and to develop positive attitude and values to lead a healthy life.OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to assess the change in life skills postintervention andstudy the association between different variables and the postintervention life skills score.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi‑experimental study was conducted among 137 adolescentseach in urban and rural schools. Life skills training module based on ten domains of life skills givenby the World Health Organization was implemented using interactive teaching–learning methods.After 6 months of implementation of life skills training sessions, a postintervention assessment wasdone using the life skills assessment scale, and the differences in the scores were measured.RESULTS: Higher life skills score was observed postintervention, and this difference was statisticallysignificant  (P  <  0.001). Higher postintervention mean score  (above 15) was seen in criticalthinking (19.58), self‑awareness (18.03), creative thinking (15.78), and interpersonal thinking (15.15).CONCLUSION: Increase in the postintervention scores using an educational intervention moduleand interactive teaching–learning methods suggests effectiveness of the life skills education program.Implementing this health promotion module on life skills in the school curriculum will address theoverall development of the personality of the school students.

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Identifying the prerequisites, facilitators, and barriers in improving adolescents’ mental health literacy interventions: A systematic review

. Azita Shahraki Mohammadi; . Sirous Panahi; . Azadeh Sayarifard; . Ahmad Ashouri

Volume 10, Issue 11 , November 2020, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  The present study aimed at identifying the prerequisites, facilitators, and barriers to adolescentmental health literacy interventions. To that end, databases PsycINFO, Science Direct, ...  Read More The present study aimed at identifying the prerequisites, facilitators, and barriers to adolescentmental health literacy interventions. To that end, databases PsycINFO, Science Direct, Scopus,Emerald, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched, out of which39 articles that had the inclusion criteria were analyzed by the content analysis. Databases searchedfrom September 30, 2018, to October 10, 2018, with the keywords “health literacy,” “mental healthliteracy,” “mental disorders,” adolescents, students, and more. Seven themes were identified as theprerequisites for interventions to improve adolescents’ mental health literacy including education at theschool level, parents’ education, training of trainers and providers, cooperation and participation amongproviders, intervention assessment and monitoring, provision of educational content, considerationof the cultural and linguistic issues. Five themes were identified as facilitators: using interactivelearning and teaching methods, supplying diverse and stimulating educational content, employingtrainers with different backgrounds, having direct contact with people with mental illness, and utilizingtechnological advancements in education. Finally, short‑time intervention, the collaboration betweenschool administrators and researchers, lack of valid information sources were identified as barriers.

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Epidemiologic assessment of self‑concept and academic self‑efficacy in Iranian high school students: Multilevel analysis

. Zahra Hosseinkhani; . Hamidreza Hassanabadi; . Mahboubeh Parsaeian; . Saharnaz Nedjat

Volume 10, Issue 11 , November 2020, , Pages 1-5

Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: In social cognitive theory, self‑efficacy and self‑concept (SC) have been introducedas important constructs that associate with adolescents’ achievements. The ...  Read More INTRODUCTION: In social cognitive theory, self‑efficacy and self‑concept (SC) have been introducedas important constructs that associate with adolescents’ achievements. The aim of this study wasto investigate the determinant factors of academic self‑efficacy (ASE) and SC in Iranian high schoolstudents based on the multilevel analysis.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive‑analytical cross‑sectional study, 1740 studentsfrom 53 high schools selected with stratified random sampling method in 2018 in Qazvin,Iran. Data collection tools were the Morgan and Jinks Self‑Efficacy Scale and the Piers‑HarrisChildren’s  SC Scale‑Second Edition. The association between some of the students and schoolvariables with ASE and SC was analyzed by hierarchical linear regression models.RESULTS: The score of the students’ standardized ASE was lower than SC. ASE and SC had astrong positive significant association with economic status, grade point average, and the educationalperiod of high school. Sex had no association with any of them. Physical activity had a positivesignificant association with SC but was no found association by ASE.CONCLUSION:  These findings revealed that for improving the adolescents’ ASE and SC should beattention to the adolescents’ family condition and school‑related factors. Proper educational, sports,and supportive programs can be effective on the adolescents’ self‑efficacy and SC.

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Relationship between internet addiction and mental health in adolescents

. Yousef Veisani; . Zahra Jalilian; . Fathola Mohamadian

Volume 10, Issue 11 , November 2020, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) currently is the major public health concern, especiallyin adolescents, although the results of previous reports are not generally uniform. This ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) currently is the major public health concern, especiallyin adolescents, although the results of previous reports are not generally uniform. This study wasconducted to determine IA in adolescents and to examine the correlation of IA with mental healthin adolescents.METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted in 2019 in Ilam city. In this study, 362 personswere included using stratified cluster sampling; clusters were geographical area and schools. The validquestionnaires including Internet Addiction Test and 28‑item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‑28)were used to interview. The correlation statistical technique was used to determine the associationbetween the two variables. The significance level was considered <0.05.RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation age of the responders was 16.40 ± 2.47 years; the totalscore of IA and mental health was 43.02 ± 16.50 and 19.27 ± 9.72, respectively. We found that5.5% of the adolescents had a severe level of IA. The lack of control with anxiety, neglect work andsocial dysfunction, and neglect social life and severe depression in internet users were found to bestatistically significant: r (365) = 0.151, P < 0.033; r (365) = 0.126, P < 0.021; and r (365) = 0.125,P < 0.033, two‑tailed, respectively.CONCLUSION: According to the results, the excessive use of internet, lack of control, and neglectsocial life are significantly correlated with mental health in adolescents; these results could becontribute to improve the theoretical models for IA in adolescents.

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The role of mental health, academic stress, academic achievement, and physical activity on self-rated health among adolescents in Iran: A multilevel analysis

. Zahra Hosseinkhani; . Hamid-Reza Hassanabadi; . Mahboubeh Parsaeian; . Saharnaz Nedjat; . Zohre Foroozanfar

Volume 10, Issue 7 , July 2020, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Health promotion of adolescents requires appropriate evidences of its determinants.The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of self-rated health (SRH) among adolescentsin ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Health promotion of adolescents requires appropriate evidences of its determinants.The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of self-rated health (SRH) among adolescentsin Qazvin, Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, with a multistage samplingmethod, we recruited 1740 adolescents aged 12–19 years from 53 schools in Qazvin, Iran (2018). Weused the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Adolescents’ Academic Stress Questionnairefor data collection. The analysis was conducted using a multilevel logistic regression model. Gender,educational period, and socioeconomic status were considered as confounders.RESULTS: Almost 21% of the adolescents reported their SRH suboptimal. Suboptimal SRH washigher in girls and older adolescents. Mental health disorders and academic stress had a positiveassociation with SRH. However, this association was negative for academic achievement andphysical activity. The interaction between mental health disorders and academic stress with SRHhad a significant association in a crud regression model.CONCLUSION: Mental health, academic stress, academic achievement, and physical activity wereimportant predictors for SRH. Interventions that focus on promoting mental health, academic stress,academic achievement, and physical activity such as physical activity for 1 h and each day for 3 daysper week can improve SRH in adolescents. Hence, policymakers should pay more attention to thisissue in health promotion programs of adolescents.

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Schoolchild as a health educator for parents regarding hypertension: A quasi‑experimental study among school students of South India

. Utsav Raj; . Poonam Ramesh Naik; . Abhay Nirgude

Volume 10, Issue 3 , March 2020, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: An alarming trend of sustained blood pressure elevation among children andadolescents has been found. Health education to schoolchildren in their formative age is the mosteffective ...  Read More BACKGROUND: An alarming trend of sustained blood pressure elevation among children andadolescents has been found. Health education to schoolchildren in their formative age is the mosteffective method to be able to modify their habits, and further, they can be enrolled as an effectivehealth educator for their parents.OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of health education module on study participants aboutprevention and control of hypertension (HTN) and the effectiveness of child as a health educator onparents’ knowledge about prevention and control of HTN.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi‑experimental study was conducted with a control groupamong high school students in two urban secondary schools. There were 110 students and 100parents each in the intervention and control groups. Modular training with interactive teaching–learningmethods was conducted for students in the intervention group. They, in turn, educated their parents.RESULTS: Postintervention, the study results showed a higher median for various domains in theintervention group as compared to the control group among both students and parents. On applyingMann–Whitney test, this difference was statistically significant with P < 0.001.CONCLUSION: The increase in the knowledge of parents belonging to the intervention groupsuggests the effective transfer of knowledge from the students to their parents.

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A healthy behavior and socioeconomic inequality in school‑age children in the West of Iran

. Ali Kazemi Karyani; . Behzad Karami Matin; . Zhila Kazemi; . Shahin Soltani; . Mohammad Ebrahimi; . Satar Rezaei

Volume 10, Issue 3 , March 2020, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Sufficient physical activity (SPA) in children and adolescents has an important rolein health, growth, and development of persons. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Sufficient physical activity (SPA) in children and adolescents has an important rolein health, growth, and development of persons. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence ofand inequality in physical activity (PA) in 12–15‑year‑old students in the West of Iran, 2018.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, 1404 students from 14 schools ofKermanshah city were included. Data on demographic and socioeconomic status (SES) of studentsand their family, body mass index, moderate‑to‑vigorous PA of students were collected. Normalizedconcentration index (NC) and decomposition analysis applied to measure inequality in SPA and thecontribution of affecting factors, respectively.RESULTS: About 19% of the students had SPA. The proportion of SPA in boys was higher thangirls (38.98% vs. 9.84%). There was a significant deviation from equality line (NC = 0.31; 95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.23, 0.38) and NC for boys and girls were 0.15 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.25) and0.05  (95% CI: −0.07, 0.17). Sex of students and SES of households with 59.09% and 39.77%contribution to the measured inequality in SPA were the highest positive contributors. Householdsize (−2.60) had a negative contribution to inequality in SPA.CONCLUSION: There was a significant pro‑rich socioeconomic inequality in SPA and sex, and SESwere the main contributors to the inequality in PA. Some interventions are needed to improve PAamong children and adolescents with a focus on girls and low‑SES groups to narrow the existing gaps.

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The association of high‑risk behaviors and their relationship with identity styles in adolescents

. Ali Zabihi; . Seyedeh Roghayeh Jafarian Amiri; . Seyed Reza Hosseini; . Valiollah Padehban

Volume 9, Issue 8 , August 2019, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Adolescence is considered an important stage in the onset of high‑risk behaviors.Identity styles have significant pathological effects in various aspects of high‑risk ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Adolescence is considered an important stage in the onset of high‑risk behaviors.Identity styles have significant pathological effects in various aspects of high‑risk behaviors. Thepresent study was conducted aiming at investigating the association between high‑risk behaviorsand identity styles in adolescents.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross‑sectional research studied 384 girls and boysstudying in the second grade of High School in Babol in 2018. Data collection was done through ademographic questionnaire, Mohammadkhani’s Risky Behaviour Questionnaire, and Berzonsky’sIdentity Style Inventory. Data analysis was performed using Chi‑square test, Pearson’s correlationcoefficient, and linear regression analysis. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: The mean age of adolescents was 17.21 ± 48.4 years (aged 16–19 years).Aggression (23.4%), relationship with the opposite gender (14.5%), smoking cigarettes andhookah (10.9%), consuming alcohol (9.3%), suicidal thoughts and attempts (5.7%), running away fromhome (3.9%), and consuming psychotropic substances (1.8%) were among the most common high‑riskbehaviors observed in the adolescents. The scores of high‑risk behaviors were negatively correlatedwith the identity scores of informational style (4.56 ± 3.107), normative style (4.45 ± 2.581), andidentity commitment style (4.15 ± 2.245) and positively correlated with the scores of diffuse‑avoidantstyle (4.15 ± 3.089). Regression analysis showed that only the informational style had a negativeand significant correlation with high‑risk behaviors.CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed significant prevalence of high‑risk behaviors and itsrelationship with identity styles in adolescents, which requires regular and planned health educationintervention at schools.

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Academic stress from the viewpoint of Iranian adolescents: A qualitative study

. Zahra Hosseinkhani; . Saharnaz Nedjat; . Hamid Reza Hassanabadi; . Mahboubeh Parsaeian

Volume 9, Issue 1 , January 2019, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Academic stress is one of the major affecting factors on adolescent health.This study investigates adolescents’ view about the sources of academic stress, with which ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Academic stress is one of the major affecting factors on adolescent health.This study investigates adolescents’ view about the sources of academic stress, with which theiridentification could be used for the reduction of adolescent academic stress.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted with Directional Content Analysismethodology. Semi‑structured interview methods were used for data collection. Participants werestudents aged 12–18 years old. Purposeful sampling with Opportunistic Maximum Variation Methodwas performed in terms of type of schools, socioeconomic classes, and gender of students. A totalof 43 interviews and were conducted by two interviewers.RESULTS: A total of 173 codes, 11 subcategories, and 5 categories were extracted as academicstressors. The categories included family factors (32 codes); peers (18 codes); teachers, schoolsupervisors, and educational system (72 codes); homework and test scores (32 codes); andeducational assistance classes (19 codes).CONCLUSION: This study showed that students have different sources of academic stress. Awarenessof their source of stress can help parents and teachers to revise their treat about students’ functionand policymaker to provide better planning and management for students.

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Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and Dentistry‑20 and oral health status among adolescents, India: A cross‑sectional study

. M. Neelima; . B. R. Chandrashekar; . Ravi Kumar Thetakala; . Yaswanth Sai; . Fathima Arzu; . Mohd Neyas Mohd Sali

Volume 8, Issue 12 , December 2018, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: Health literacy is an important issue in public health. Individuals with low healthliteracy skills often have poorer health knowledge and health status than those with ...  Read More INTRODUCTION: Health literacy is an important issue in public health. Individuals with low healthliteracy skills often have poorer health knowledge and health status than those with higher literacylevel. Research documented on the assessment of oral health literacy in health settings and itsassociation with oral health outcomes for adolescents was scarce.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess oral health literacy about oral healthstatus among adolescents attending pre‑university colleges in Mysore , India.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted over a period of 2 monthsamong 401 adolescents attending pre‑university colleges. Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicineand Dentistry‑20 (REALMD‑20) and the WHO oral health assessment pro forma for adults (2013)were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and tests employed were Chi‑square test,ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.RESULTS: Mean REALMD‑20 score was 10.31 ± 5.7. The study participants belonging toscience course (12.69 ± 5.0) and private pre‑university colleges (11.76 ± 5.8) had significantlyhigher REALMD‑20 scores. Mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth among the study participantswas (0.42 ± 0.9). Type of college, course, dental history, and number of dental visits was significantlyassociated with oral health literacy while oral health parameters were not significantly associated.CONCLUSION: Oral health literacy was not significantly associated with oral health status. However,long‑term studies are recommended to validate the results of the present study.

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Quality of life of adolescents and young people arrive at an addiction treatment centers upon their admission, and 1, 4 and 8 months after methadone maintenance therapy

. Narges Sadeghi; . Elham Davaridolatabadi; . Azam Rahmani; . Arash Ghodousi; . Marzieh Ziaeirad

Volume 7, Issue 5 , September and October 2017, , Pages 1-6

Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Drug abuse influences the quality of life significantly. Thus, the present study isdesigned to compare the quality of life of adolescents and young adults who have voluntarily ...  Read More BACKGROUND: Drug abuse influences the quality of life significantly. Thus, the present study isdesigned to compare the quality of life of adolescents and young adults who have voluntarily referredto addiction treatment centers at different time slots of upon admission, and 1, 4, and 8 months aftermaintenance therapy.METHODS: The present paper is a longitudinal study on 141 of adolescents and young adults whohad referred to various addiction treatment centers throughout Isfahan voluntarily. The populationwas selected through convenience sampling method and 137 of adolescents and young adultscontinued the research until the end. The results were analyzed using descriptive and analyticstatistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation, repeated measure test, and post‑hoc test) in SPSS 17.RESULTS: Results showed that the average of quality of life total score was sequential and not thesame in the 4 times slots under study. The total quality of life score upon admission was significantlydifferent from 1, 4, and 8 months after maintenance treatment. However, quality of life at 1‑monthwas not significantly different to that at 4 and 8 months after the treatment; quality of life at 4 monthsafter the treatment was not significantly different to that at 8 months after.DISCUSSION: According to the present study, it can be concluded that the quality of life of adolescentsand young adults referring to addiction treatment centers increases 1‑month after the treatment;nevertheless, it is worth to note that the degree of quality of life increase in 4 and 8 months after thetreatment is not as much as that in 1‑month after the treatment.

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Prevalence of high normal FBS and prediabetes among adolescents in Birjand, East of Iran, 2012

. Tayyebeh Chahkandi; . Fatemeh Taheri; . Bita Bijari; . Toba Kazemi; . Kokab Namakin; . Mahmoud Zardast

Volume 5, Issue 4 , August 2015, , Pages 1-4

Abstract

  Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose inadolescents in Birjand city in eastern Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional studywas ...  Read More Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose inadolescents in Birjand city in eastern Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional studywas done on 2653 students aged 11–18 years selected through multi‑stage stratified andrandom sampling. Fasting blood glucose (FBS) of these students was measured applyingthe enzymatic process. The obtained data were analyzed by means of SPSS software (V: 15)and statistical tests T and X2. Results: The mean age of individual was 14.5 ± 2 years. MeanFBS of the whole population was 89.8 ± 9.8 mg/dl, but it was significantly higher amongboys than girls (P < 0.001). Out of the whole subjects (92.4%), 1,328 (95.1%) of the girls and1,122 (89.3%) of the boys, FBS was less than 100 mg/dl among whom 64.4% had FBS above86 mg/dl. In 200 subjects (7.5%) of whole population, FBS was 100–125 mg/dl; with that ofthe boys was 2.3 times than the girls revealing a prediabetes condition: OR = 2.3(CI: 1.7‑3.2).Among the students, 3 (0.1%) had an FBS > 126 mg/dl. Mean blood glucose was significantregarding age and sex. Conclusions: High prevalence of high FBS (within normal range)among adolescents is warning and requires special attention of health officials. Screening ofchildren and adolescents in order to identify those at risk and plan for intervening is urgent toprevent type‑2 diabetes epidemic and following cardiovascular complications in the Society.

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Nutritional status of adolescents in Bangladesh: Comparison of severe thinness status of a low–income family’s adolescents between urban and rural Bangladesh

. Neyamul Akhter; . Farida Yasmin Sondhya

Volume 3, Issue 6 , June 2013, , Pages 1-7

Abstract

  Introduction: This study estimated the nutritional as well as the severe thinness status (accordingto the World Health Organization [WHO]) of a low-income family’s adolescent ...  Read More Introduction: This study estimated the nutritional as well as the severe thinness status (accordingto the World Health Organization [WHO]) of a low-income family’s adolescent girl and alsotheir early age of life in both urban and rural adolescent girls in Bangladesh. Materials andMethods: This cross-sectional study measured the height, weight and muac by standardprocedure for calculating the body mass index according to the WHO reference. A 2-days,24-h food recall and food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the food frequency,energy intake, protein and carbohydrate. A multistage, multiphase stratified cluster samplingwas used to select the study population from two locations in Bangladesh: Dhaka city and theeast region of Trishal (district of Mymensingh). The study subjects were low-income families’adolescent girls (n = 214) aged 14–17 years. The two groups contained an equal number ofrespondents (n=107/group). Results: Results revealed that economic status had a significanteffect on nutritional status. Nutritional status of low-income families’ adolescent were lowboth in urban and rural adolescents, but severe thinness rate according to the WHO of urban(22.4%) adolescents was much higher than rural (10.3%) adolescents (chi-square = 4.9 andP-value = 0.01), and was also higher at an earlier age of their life. In food intake distribution andfood consumption status, the same results were seen. The percentage of never eat meat and fishof low-income families adolescent girls were (29.7%, 11.4%) in urban group and (24.4%, 6.8%)in rural group. The main food rice consumption of urban adolescents was also about half thatof rural adolescents per day. The study also shows that intake of energy, protein, carbohydrateand fat were significantly different between urban and rural girls. Only 53% energy was coveredof the recommended daily energy intake in urban adolescents. Conclusion: Based on the foodrecall and anthropometric results, we conclude that malnutrition is common in low-income family’sadolescents, and the severe thinness rate is much higher in urban than in rural adolescents, asalso their early age of life in both low-income family’s adolescents girls in Bangladesh.

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