Prevalence and Knowledge of High Risk Behaviours among College Students

Abstract

Introduction: Youth is a critical period for the initiation and sustenance of high risk behaviours, as they knowingly or unknowingly indulge in alcohol use, drug use and tobacco use which leads to lifestyle diseases and significant health problems, emerging as a global threat in the future. Hence the investigator step forward for the youth, by conducting a descriptive study to identify the prevalence of high risk behaviours and to assess knowledge on its various health consequences among college students in selected colleges of Thrissur district in Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: A quantitative non-experimental approach and descriptive study design were used for the study with a sample size of 610 college students who were selected by multi stage random sampling. High risk behaviour inventory and knowledge questionnaire were the tools used. Data were organized, tabulated and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Overall prevalence of high risk behaviours was 30.1%. Among the respondents, 28.7% were using alcohol, 1% was using drugs, 9.7% and 2.5% reported the use of tobacco and smokeless tobacco in their life respectively. About 42.1% of male students and 16.1% of female students reported high risk behaviours. Majority (63.6%) of them reported average level of knowledge related to high risk behaviours. Conclusion: The study concluded that early identification of high risk behaviours and assessment of knowledge help to plan effective risk reduction and health promotive strategies. How to cite this article:Chiyedath JM, Vijayakumari S, Riaz KM. Prevalence and Knowledge of High Risk Behaviours among College Students. Int J Nurs Midwif Res 2019; 6(4): 52-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.201933Chiyedath JM, Vijayakumari S, Riaz KM. Prevalence and Knowledge of High Risk Behaviours among College Students. Int J Nurs Midwif Res 2019; 6(4): 52-56.