Health risk behaviors in urban and rural Guatemalan adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is an important stage of life when health behaviors and attitudes are established. The purpose of this research was to assess health risk behaviors among Guatemalan students in both an urban and rural school. Items were adapted from the Global School-based Student Health Survey and were used to measure and compare the prevalence of risk behaviors between these two demographically and culturally distant school-based samples. In general, the prevalence of adolescent health risk behaviors in both schools was lower than other Latin American countries. Many health risk behaviors were associated with location (urban vs. rural settings) and/or gender. Tobacco use, alcohol use, and sexual activity were higher among urban students. Boys were more likely than girls to use alcohol, use tobacco, and be sexually active. In addition, the prevalence of mental health problems was higher among girls and rural students. These findings imply that measures should be taken to design effective and appropriate health strategies for adolescents attending these schools. Health promotion programs in schools and communities should assist the youth in developing positive health behaviors and cultivating healthy lifestyles in an effort to reduce risk behaviors among adolescent populations. Further research is needed to extend our understanding of risk factors of health behavior in these adolescent populations and to identify effective preventative approaches and strategies that specifically cater to the location and culture of the students.

Factors Related to Longitudinal Patterns of Multiple Health Behaviors in Chinese Freshmen

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The Sexual Risk Behaviors of Middle School Students According to School Nurse Placement Levels in Korea

“…This may be due to environmental and contextual differences, as the above-mean group is composed of eight regions in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Gyeonggi Province, whereas the below-mean group is composed of nine regions in rural areas, including small towns. In studies of the differences in the rate of sexual intercourse between regions, it is reported that there was a significant difference between urban and rural areas [33,34], not reflecting the results of this study. Considering that domestic studies on regional comparisons of adolescents' sexual risk behaviors have been limited, as the most recent study were either performed at last 10 years ago, it is necessary to systematically investigate the effect of the differences between urban and rural areas on early adolescents' sexual risk behaviors according to environmental changes.…”

Tobacco use: prevalence, pattern, and predictors, among those aged 15-49 years in Nigeria, a secondary data analysis

“…In contrast, several studies documented that tobacco use and cigarette smoking is associated with place of residence 17,20 . While a study reported higher use among rural residents 34 , others have reported higher use among urban residents 35 . The findings may have been different from this current study owing to differences in the economical, geographical, and socio-cultural practices of these groups.…”