Adolescents In Rural Schools Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Acute Upper Respiratory Diseases in Rural School Adolescents in Neyyattinkara Taluk, India

Introduction: Public knowledge and practices regarding the common cold is crucial to prevent improper treatment and preserve resources and well - being. Despite global studies on the topic, there's a gap in research focusing on rural school - going late adolescents, like those in Neyyattinkara Taluk. This study aims to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding acute upper respiratory illness among late adolescents in NeyyattinkaraTaluk. Methods: An observational cross - sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of late adolescents in rural schools of a part of India from July to September 2019. The study was done among late adolescents (aged 15 - 18) in government higher secondary schools of Neyyattinkara Taluk. A sample size of 197 was taken. Data was collected using a semi - structured questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding upper respiratory illness. Point estimate was done at 95% confidence interval. Results: Most of the adolescents had limited knowledge about upper respiratory illness, with 167 (85%) not considering it a disease. Self - medication 116 (59%) and reliance on home remedies 110 (56%) were common, while only 39 (20%) opted for antibiotics. Conclusions: There was average knowledge level in adolescents but persistent misconceptions, prevalent self - medication practices, and limited understanding of disease transmission regarding upper respiratory infections.

X-raying educator-related factors hindering sexuality education implementation in rural South African schools: learners’ perspectives

BackgroundAlthough numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of well-implemented school-based sexuality education in promoting young people’s sexual and reproductive health outcomes, the prevalence of teenage pregnancy among school-going adolescents in rural schools located in the King Cetshwayo District of South Africa suggests it fell short of its objectives of reducing learners’ vulnerability, enhancing decision-making abilities, and raising self-efficacy in these schools. This study focused on learners’ experiences with their schools’ sexuality education programs.MethodsThis was a qualitative, interpretative phenomenological study. Data was collected from 84 participants across nine schools in the study setting using focus group interviews. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework was followed to analyze the data.ResultsThe results of the study showed that educator-centered impediments to effective school-based sexuality education included attitudes, beliefs, age differences, health status, prior experiences, and personal discomfort. The results further indicated that these obstacles have a detrimental effect on the pedagogical effectiveness of sexuality education teachers in implementing the curriculum in the study setting and, consequently, on the sexual well-being of the learners.ConclusionBased on the study’s findings, pre-service sexuality education pedagogy training is recommended for student teachers, as well as ongoing in-service training and re-training interventions and support for sexuality education teachers, to address the identified barriers and improve their pedagogical efficacy.

The prevalence of anaemia in rural adolescent girls - A cross-sectional study to understand the sociodemographic and dietary determinants in Dharwad District, India.

Anaemia is one leading cause of morbidity among adolescent girls. Prevention, early detection, and treatment can break the intergeneration cycle of malnutrition. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and assess its sociodemographic determinants and understand its association with the dietary pattern of rural adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adolescent girls studying in the school of Kalgatigi Taluk, Dharwad district. The school girls were interviewed using a predesigned structured questionnaire by interview method. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary pattern. Haemoglobin levels were estimated using Sahli's method. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS version 19 and the Chi-square test was applied to study the significance. Rural adolescent school girls between the age group of 13-16 years were included. The prevalence of anaemia among them was found to be 47.4% and was significantly associated with the educational status of the mother, their socioeconomic status (SES), and type of diet. Vegetarian girls had a higher prevalence of anaemia. The frequency of meat and egg consumption was significantly associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was higher in thin and severely thin girls based on WHO-BMI. Anaemia in rural adolescent girls is of high burden and public health importance with a prevalence of 47.4% and significant association with dietary habits, SES, and BMI.

Study on Acute Upper Respiratory Illness among Late Adolescents in Rural Schools of Neyyattinkara Taluk, India: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices

Study on Acute Upper Respiratory Illness among Late Adolescents in Rural Schools of Neyyattinkara Taluk, India: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices

A comparative study of the knowledge and practices related to menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in urban and rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan: A cross-sectional study.

Menstrual hygiene management plays a significant role in the achievement of sustainable development goals, including good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, women's empowerment, and sanitation. Even though the United Nations emphasizes menstrual hygiene management as a global public health and human rights issue, studies from different parts of the world have shown there is a lack of policies in this area that affects adolescent girls. The study aimed to assess the menstrual-related knowledge and practices of adolescent girls (10-18 years) attending urban and rural public schools of district Khairpur of province Sindh of Pakistan. This research is an analytical cross-sectional study design. Adolescent girls (n = 310), 159 girls from urban and 159 girls from rural schools, were enrolled. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Knowledge was considered satisfactory if the participant scored ⩾12/20, and <12/20 was considered unsatisfactory knowledge. Practice scores were considered good for >10 and poor for <10. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were calculated. The chi-square test was used to assess and compare the differences between practices and knowledge of menstrual hygiene management between urban and rural adolescent school girls. We found significant differences in menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls between urban and rural areas. Approximately two-thirds of the total school girls thought that school management had inadequate resources and toilet facilities (rural: 76% versus urban: 62%). The major source of knowledge in adolescent rural and urban girls for menstrual-related matters was mothers. More girls from the urban school (81%) were aware of using sanitary pads during menstruation. The majority of the girls from urban areas showed satisfactory knowledge whereas only 38% of rural girls were shown to have satisfactory results. Nearly 71% of urban girls were found to have good practices when compared with rural girls (12%). With further importance by the United Nations on female education in less developed regions, where the health of women is usually given less importance, policies are required on the inclusion of reproductive health of female adolescents in the curriculum.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Adolescent Obesity among Rural School Adolescents in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic diseases and are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Obesity during adolescence is strongly associated with adulthood obesity leading to increased morbidities and mortality. As a developing country undergoing rapid urbanization, Nepal is in a transitional phase where undernutrition coexists with obesity; however, there is a dearth of literature on the status of adolescent obesity in the rural section of Nepal. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of adolescent obesity in a rural district of Nepal and find out its associated factors. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the adolescent students studying in classes 8, 9, and 10 in four secondary schools of Gosaikunda rural municipality of Rasuwa district, Nepal. Total enumerative sampling was used, and Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) standard questionnaires were used in collecting the information. Height and weight measurements were taken, and the body mass index was classified according to Asia-Pacific criteria. The collected data were analyzed using "SPSS" version 22. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associated factors, and a p value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 267 adolescents, 14.6% were obese and 14.6% were overweight. Of the female participants, 39.6% were either obese or overweight, while 12.6% of the male adolescents were overweight/obese. Among the total participants, 16.5% were underweight, including 14.0% females and 20.4% males. Female adolescents were about five times (AOR: 5.2, 95% CI (2.5-10.9), p < 0.01) more likely of being overweight/obese than male adolescents. More than one-quarter of the adolescents were found to be obese/overweight, and the prevalence was significantly more among female adolescents. It emphasizes the necessity of school-based programs promoting a healthy lifestyle among students to maintain healthy weight status.

The effect of body weight on peak expiratory flow rate (pefr) among the adolescent rural school children, an observational study

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in developing countries is a growing public health concern. Obesity has been linked to pulmonary dysfunction, including reduced peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of body weight on PEFR among rural adolescent school children. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in schools located in and around Nagamangala Taluk, with a study duration of 18 months. The sample size was determined using a formula based on the prevalence of obesity in school-going children. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), were recorded. PEFR was measured using a peak flow meter. Statistical analysis, including correlation coefficient, t-test, and linear regression analysis, was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The study included 573 rural adolescent school children, with a majority aged between 13 and 15 years and a higher proportion of female participants. The prevalence of overweight based on WHtR was 29.7%. There was no significant difference in mean age between overweight and normal WHtR groups. However, a higher prevalence of overweight was observed among boys compared to girls. Higher consumption of sweets, soft drinks, and fast food was significantly associated with overweight, while a higher frequency of exercise showed an inverse association. Longer duration of TV viewing was also associated with overweight. Overweight children had a significantly higher mean BMI and lower mean PEFR compared to children with a normal WHtR. There was a significant inverse correlation between PEFR and both BMI and WHtR. Conclusion: The present study observed a significant inverse correlation between PEFR and both BMI and WHtR. The study findings support the negative impact of excess body weight on lung function, as evidenced by reduced PEFR among overweight rural adolescent school children. The results emphasize the need for interventions to address childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. Awareness among healthcare professionals, parents, and educators is crucial for early detection and management of pulmonary dysfunction associated with excess body weight in children.

Vitamin B12 Status in Rural Adolescent School Girls in Mysuru, India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Almost 56% of Indian adolescent girls aged 15–19 years suffer from anemia. Adolescent age is a period of many significant physiological changes that increase nutritional demand, and they remain at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Our aim is to assess the prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency among school-going adolescent girls aged 13–16 years of rural Mysore. This study was a cross-sectional study, conducted in two high schools in rural Mysuru. Adolescent girls aged 13–16 years were included. The chosen subjects underwent complete hemogram, peripheral smear examination, and vitamin B12 level estimation. Out of 98 subjects enrolled, 40.81% were found to be deficient in vitamin B12. Macrocytes and hyper-segmented neutrophils were found to have statistically significant (P value &lt; 0.001) relationship with vitamin B12 deficiency. The relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency with either type of diet and anemia was statically insignificant (P &gt; 0.05). The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among rural adolescent girls in Mysuru is high. Other causes of nutritional anemia apart from iron deficiency, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, must be considered in the etiology of anemia and optimally treated. It is recommended to further strengthen the adolescent national health programs and food fortification programs.

Improving psychosocial distress for young adolescents in rural schools of Pakistan: study protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial

IntroductionEmotional problems are leading contributors to health burden among adolescents worldwide. There is an urgent need for evidence-based psychological interventions for young people. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness...

Elevated blood pressure and its associated demographic factors among rural school adolescents in Fayoum governorate, Egypt

Elevated blood pressure and its associated demographic factors among rural school adolescents in Fayoum governorate, Egypt

Knowledge retention of basic life support in rural school adolescents: A comparison of two educational methods

The Journal is the primary organ of Continuing Paediatric Medical Education in Sri Lanka. The journal also has a website. Free full text access is available for all readers.The Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health is now indexed in SciVerse Scopus (Source Record ID 19900193609), Index Medicus for South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR), CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International Global Health Database), DOAJ and is available in Google, as well as Google Scholar.The policies of the journal are modelled on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Guidelines on Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health is recognised by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) as a publication following the ICMJE Recommendations.

Anxiety among urban, semi-urban and rural school adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Investigating prevalence and associated factors

BackgroundAnxiety disorder is one of the emerging public health problems in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Likewise, in Bangladesh, a growing number of adolescents are experiencing such symptoms though we have very limited research evidence available. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and the factors associated with this condition among urban, semi-urban, and rural school adolescents in Bangladesh.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. A self-administered questionnaire was conveyed to 2355 adolescents from nine secondary schools of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Of the respondents, 2313 completed the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Besides, sociodemographic information, self-reported body image as well as modification of Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) and WHO Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ) were used to determine the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with anxiety among adolescents.ResultsA total of 20.1% of adolescents were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety; of them, a significantly higher proportion (49.9%) of female adolescents were suffering more than males (40.1%). Furthermore, age, student’s grade, father’s educational level, number of family members, and residential setting were found to be significantly associated with anxiety among adolescents. In terms of lifestyle factors, irregular physical activity (AOR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.05–1.63), high screen time (AOR: 1.51; 95% CI:1.21–1.88), sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 3.79; 95% CI: 3.02–4.76), and underweight body image (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI:1.70–3.28) were found to be significantly associated with anxiety among school adolescents of urban, semi-urban, and rural residential settings.ConclusionsAnxiety is prevalent among urban, semi-urban, and rural school adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh. To lessen this prevalence of anxiety among Bangladeshi adolescents, evidence-based health programs- healthy school trials—and policies should therefore be taken based on the findings of this study.

Depressive Symptom and Associated Factors Among School Adolescents of Urban, Semi-Urban and Rural Areas in Bangladesh: A Scenario Prior to COVID-19.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptom and the factors associated with this condition among urban, semi-urban and rural adolescents in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh.Methods: A cross sectional study using two stage cluster sampling procedure was performed. A self-administered questionnaire was conveyed to 2,355 adolescents from nine secondary schools of Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Of the respondents, 2,313 completed the nine item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Besides, sociodemographic information, self-reported body image as well as modification of Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) and WHO Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ) were used to determine the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with depressive symptom among adolescents.Results: A total of 30.1% adolescents were found to be suffering from moderate to severely severe depressive symptom. Females (60.8%) were found suffering significantly more than males (39.2%). Sociodemographic factors, for example, residential setting and family size were found significantly associated with depressive symptom among adolescents. Adjusted estimate of logistic regression shows that physical inactivity (AOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.14–1.84), >2 h/day screen time (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.39–2.03), sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 3.23; 95% CI: 2.64–3.96), and underweight body image perception (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.70–3.13) were significantly associated with depressive symptom among adolescents.Conclusions: Among urban, semi-urban and rural school adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, depressive symptom is quite prevalent. To lessen the spread of depressive symptom among Bangladeshi adolescents, urgent steps should therefore be taken.

A Six-Step Process to Reduce Bullying in Schools; The Content of a Health Promotion Intervention to Reduce Bullying Among Early Adolescents in a Rural School in Sri Lanka

Bullying is a form of aggression which has negative impacts on health. Bullying acts are reported to be common among early adolescents in rural schools in Sri Lanka. It is timely to design and implement interventions aiming to reduce bullying in schools in Sri Lanka. In this article, we aim to describe the process and the content of a health promotion intervention carried out aiming to reduce bullying among early adolescents in a rural school in Sri Lanka. The intervention is comprised of a six-step process. A logical framework developed based on Samarasinghe et al (2011) was used to guide the intervention. The content of the intervention was designed following health promotion principles. Health promotion aims for empowering people- to take collective community actions aiming to achieve desired health outcomes. The intervention for bullying was designed aiming for empowering early adolescents -to generate collective actions to reduce bullying in their school. In the intervention, adolescents not merely participated but also engaged and involved in modifying the planned intervention. Different activities, brainstorming sessions, facilitated discussions, role plays, etc. were carried out in the process. In this intervention, the health promotion approach we employed enabled engagement and involvement of adolescents beyond mere participation in the intervention.

Prevalence of Obesity and Hypertension among Rural School Adolescents: A School Based Pilot Study in Kerala, India

Aim: The prevalence of hypertension and obesity is increasing worldwide. Recent data on sustained hypertension and obesity among school-going children and adolescents from the state of Kerala, India are limited. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and hypertension among apparently healthy school going adolescents.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 252 school going adolescents aged 11-16 years (173 boys and 79 girls) selected from two private aided rural schools of Thrissur, District, Kerala, India. Measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure were done using standard guidelines. Guidelines of Indian Academy of Pediatrics and standard guidelines of blood pressure measurement using gender height specific blood pressure percentile charts were used to identify the overweight/obese and pre-hypertensive/ hypertensive adolescents respectively. Analysis was done using SPSS version 27.0. Gender wise differences were checked using chi-square and t-test.&#x0D; Results: Among 252 adolescents, 83 (20.7%) were either overweight or obese and pre-hypertensive or hypertensive. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was found to be 9.5% and 15.1% respectively. The overall prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was found to be 15 (6.0%) and 24 (9.5%) respectively. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure was found to be statistically lower (P&lt;0.001) among those with normal BMI, than those with overweight or obesity. The mean systolic and diastolic BP was slightly more among boys than girls and it was not statistically significant.&#x0D; Conclusion: The high prevalence of hypertension, obesity and the strong association between obesity and high blood pressure seen among school-going adolescents necessitates immediate attention. Strategies should be designed and implemented for prevention, early identification, and treatment of pediatric obesity and hypertension in forestalling the morbidity/mortality from non communicable diseases and its complications.

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors Among School Adolescents of Urban, Semi-Urban and Rural Areas in Bangladesh

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the factors associated with this condition among urban, semi-urban and rural adolescents in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Methods: A cross sectional study using two stage cluster sampling procedure was performed. A self-administered questionnaire was conveyed to 2355 adolescents from nine secondary schools of Dhaka district of Bangladesh. Of the respondents, 2313 completed the nine item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Besides, sociodemographic information, self-reported body image as well as modification of Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) and WHO Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ) were used to determine the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with depression among adolescents. Results: A total of 30.1% adolescents were found to be suffering from moderate to severely severe depression symptoms. Female (60.8%) were found suffering significantly more than male (39.2%). Sociodemographic factors, for example, residential setting and family size were found significantly associated with depression among adolescents. Adjusted estimate of logistic regression shows that physical inactivity (AOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.14-1.84), >2 hours/day screen time (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.39-2.03), sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 3.23; 95% CI: 2.64-3.96), perceiving as underweight (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.70-3.13) were found to be significantly associated with depression among adolescents. Conclusions: Among urban, semi-urban and rural school adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, depression is quite prevalent. To lessen the spread of depression among Bangladeshi adolescents, urgent steps should therefore be taken. Funding Statement: This study was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no complicit of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was taken from Institutional Review Board, Jahangirnagar University (Ref No: BBEC, JU/ M/ 2019 (8) 3). Besides, all participants read, understood and signed a written consent form at the time of survey data collection.

Gender characteristics of interpersonal relations and aggression of adolescents in rural schools

The problem of aggressive behavior in adolescents is not new to psychological science. However, in a transitional society, it requires constant monitoring. At the same time, the rural school is of interest due to the relative isolation and limited number of subjects of interaction. The purpose of this study was to study the specifics of aggressive reactions and types of attitudes towards people in rural school adolescents of different sexes. The study involved students from rural schools, in the amount of 100 people aged 14-16 years (M = 15.3; SD = 1.2; 47% men). The following methods were used: Bass-Darki questionnaire (adaptation by A.A. Khvan, Yu.A. Zaitsev, Yu.A. Kuznetsova.), Fundamental interpersonal Relations Orientation - Behavior (FIRO-B) (W. Schutz, adaptation by A.A. Rukavishnikov), as well as statistical methods (descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test). It was found that in the group of boys, physical aggression and resentment are more pronounced; girls are characterized by higher verbal aggression and feelings of guilt. Boys are also characterized by a high need for affection, and girls demonstrate a pronounced need for control over others. Prospects for the study consist in the subsequent analysis of the factors that determine the emergence of various aggressive and hostile reactions in adolescents, a comparison of rural and urban adolescents, as well as the characteristics of interpersonal relations in their relationship with the individual typological and gender characteristics of adolescents. The research results can be useful in organizing psychological support for adolescents in rural schools.

Menstrual marks: An evaluative study to assess knowledge and practices among urban and rural adolescent young females of Kanpur, India

CONTEXT: Menstruation is a unique phenomenon for females. The beginning of menstruation is one of the most significant processes occurring among young females during the adolescent age. AIMS: To assess and compare the real knowledge and practice regarding menstrual marks among adolescent urban and rural young females about menstruation. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Urban and rural adolescent school young females were selected as participants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A school-based, cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from June to July 2019 among the adolescent school-going young females of Kanpur who were selected from two urban and five rural schools. All young females aged between 9 and 17 years who have attained menarche were selected and the sample size came out to be 530. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics-version 21. Descriptive statistics included the calculation of percentages. Categorical data were compared using the Chi-square test. All values were considered statistically significant for a value of P RESULTS: 51.8% of rural young females participated in the study. Young females aged 12–14 years were the main participants, and 67.2% of rural and 80.3% of urban young females were aware of menstruation before menarche. Both group young females knew sanitary napkins which were statically significant (P CONCLUSIONS: Hygienic exercise and knowledge during menstruation were disappointing in the rural area. Rural young females should be more educated about the traditional beliefs and misconceptions regarding menstruation.

A study of menstrual hygiene among rural adolescent school girls in rural field practice area of a medical college, Davangere- a cross sectional study

Background: Adolescence in girls signifies the transition from girlhood to womanhood; one fifth of world population is between 10 and 19 years old. Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to the females. Menstruation is a monthly occurrence that requires access to appropriate materials and facilities, without which, females suffer from poor menstrual hygiene which restricts their movement and self-confidence. Increased knowledge about menstruation right from childhood may escalate safe practices and may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 adolescent girls in a rural field practice area of S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences. Data on socio-economic variables and menstrual characteristics were collected using pre-tested questionnaires for a period of two months from September to October 2018.Results: Total of 200 girls was interviewed. 87.6% of the girls were aware about menstruation prior to the attainment of menarche. Mothers were the first informants in about 56.5% girls. Overall 51.5% adolescent girls were using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent, while 45.6% were using used cloths. 97.6% girls practiced different restrictions during menstruation. Some of the sociodemographic factors like religion, type of family and mother’s education, SES were significantly associated with menstrual hygienic practices.Conclusions: There is a need to educate the girls about menstruation, its importance and hygiene maintenance; to enable them to lead a healthy reproductive life in future.

Prevalence and correlates of bullying and victimization among school students in rural Egypt

ObjectivesKnowledge on risk factors of bullying and victimization among school students is crucial for the implementation of preventive measures. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and correlates of school bullying and victimization and their association with behavioral disorders among preparatory and secondary school students in rural Egypt.Study designCross-sectionalMethodsA total of 476 students from two mixed public schools in rural Egypt (one preparatory and one secondary) were enrolled. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics and correlates of bullying and victimization including personal and social, family, school, and community factors. Frequency of bullying and victimization was measured using the short version aggression and victimization scale. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used for screening behavioral problems.ResultsPrevalence of bullying behavior was high (77.8%) among the studied group, of those 9.5% were unique bullies, 10.5% were unique victims, and 57.8% were bully-victims. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, failure in previous scholastic years (OR = 11.1, 95% CI 1.1–101.4, P = 0.033), witnessing family members using weapons (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 1.1–34.0, P = 0.038), male gender (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–5.0, P = 0.027), and mothers’ education (university or higher) (OR = 0.1, 95% CI 0.02–0.7, P = 0.017) remained the significant predictors for bullying. However, only having a drug addict friend (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.4, P = 0.025) was the significant predictor for victimization. The independent predictors for being bully-victims in order of importance were exposure to physical violence in the street (OR = 5.1, 95% CI 1.2–22.7, P = 0.031), male gender (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.6, P < 0.001), witnessing fights (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.7–5.7, P < 0.001) and insulting words (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.3–4.7, P = 0.007) among family members, exposure to insulting words in the street (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.7, P = 0.010), watching violent movies (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.4, P = 0.008), and younger age (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.6–0.8, P < 0.001).The self-reported SDQ revealed that the conduct problems scale scored significantly higher among bully-victims (2.8 ± 1.7 vs. 2.3 ± 1.6, P = 0.004).ConclusionsPrevalence of bullying behavior was high among rural adolescent school students. Establishment of a bullying prevention committee at school including all school personnel for addressing different factors associated with bullying behavior is recommended. Further follow-up and psychiatric assessment of students for predicting those prone to behavioral abnormalities are also recommended.