Health and health behaviour among late adolescents in Southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Objectives: To present the rationale and design of the Southern Province A-level School Health Survey, to identify health status and health behaviour patterns, and to examine gender differences in these factors, among late adolescent school children in Southern Sri Lanka. Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographics, perceived health status, psychological well-being, substance use, physical activity, school violence, and sexual health. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select students from the three districts in the Southern Province. Results: A total of 908 females and 903 males participated in the study. The majority (about 98%) was aged 18 years and 99% were Sinhalese. Over 80% of both male and female participants reported self-perceived physical and ment~l h-11th rvery pcd or ' ' ~n? l . ' ' Ncnrly 50% of both male and female respondents had experienced severe or moderate psychological distress in the 30-day period preceding the survey. Males were more likely to report substance use than females (Alcohol use: 10.5% verses 1.8%; Smoking: 5.1 % verses < I % ; Illegal drug use: 1.5% verses <I%). No gender difference was found in level of physical activity. About 64% of the males and 63% of the females were underweight. Males were more likely than females to be involved in violent activities at school (60.1 % verses 46.8%). About 7% of male and 6% of female students reported having had some form of heteros,xual experience in the previous year. Conclusions: In general, health status of this student population is good. Malnutrition, sexual and mental health issues, and issues relating to violence, however, require closer attention. Further, longitudinal and qualitative research is needed to identitjr causal factors associated with the unhealthy behavior patterns identified among these late adolescents.