Cross-sectional School Survey Research Articles

Physical Activity among Adolescents in New South Wales (Australia)

To examine secular trends, seasonal and socioeconomic differences in physical activity participation among Australian adolescents in 1997 and 2004. Repeat cross-sectional school survey, conducted in 1997 and 2004. School students were randomly selected from grades 8 and 10 in New South Wales Australia (1997, N = 2026; 2004 N = 1771). Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed by self-reported participation in organized and nonorganized physical activity separately for summer and winter by sex, grade, and socioeconomic status (SES). Between survey periods, the proportion of students reporting > or = 60 min.d(-1) of MVPA increased, except among grade 10 boys during winter. MVPA (min.d(-1)) increased among all groups during summer school terms, during winter school terms, MVPA was relatively stable between surveys for grade 8 students but inconsistent among grade 10 students. Organized MVPA increased among all groups in both summer (19-49 min.d(-1)) and winter (7-21 min.d(-1)) school terms. Participation in nonorganized MVPA increased only during summer school terms (4-32 min.d(-1)) and decreased during winter school terms (7-17 min.d(-1)). MVPA increased consistently among students in the high-SES group compared with other SES groups, independent of season, and in some cases MVPA decreased in low-SES groups during winter school terms. Overall, the patterns of change were similar for boys and girls, with substantial increases in summer school terms and insubstantial changes during winter school terms (with the exception of a decrease among grade 10 boys). There was a direct association between change in participation in MVPA and SES, indicating that interventions are required to focus on the needs of less-advantaged students.

Psychosomatic complaints and sense of coherence among adolescents in a county in Sweden: a cross-sectional school survey

BackgroundOver the last five to ten years there has been an increase in psychosomatic complaints (PSC) in Swedish children. The objective of the study was to examine the relation between PSC and sense of coherence (SOC).MethodsA cross-sectional school survey in the county of Västmanland, Sweden. All 16- and 19-year old adolescents present at school on the day of the survey were asked to complete a questionnaire in their classrooms during a one-lesson hour session under the supervision of their teachers. Totally 3,998 students in both private and public schools, studying in ninth grade elementary school or third grade secondary school participated.ResultsThe results from our study show that there is a statistically significant relation between PSC and SOC among adolescents. It also shows that adolescents with a weak SOC score have more symptoms of PSC.ConclusionOur study indicates that SOC can help the adolescents to choose a coping strategy that is appropriate for the situation and thereby may prevent them from developing PSC. However, additional studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Factors relating to adolescent suicidal behavior: a cross-sectional Malaysian school survey

Purpose This study was undertaken to examine factors relating to adolescent suicide behavior. Method This was a cross-sectional school survey of 4,500 adolescent students based on a structured questionnaire. Data were collected using the supervised self-administered questionnaire (modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance in the Malaysian National Language, Bahasa Malaysia). Results Seven percent (312 of 4,454) of the adolescent students had seriously considered attempting suicide. Among the adolescents, 4.6% had attempted suicide at least once during the 12 months preceding the survey. Female adolescents were more likely to put their suicidal thoughts into suicidal action than were male adolescents. Malay and Indian people are more likely than the Chinese to respond, “Felt sad and hopeless.” However, Malay adolescents had the lowest rate of attempted suicide. Based on multiple logistic regression, factors significantly related to urban adolescents' suicide behavior are “Felt sad or hopeless,” “Number of days felt unsafe to go to school,” “Riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol,” “Physical fight,” and “Number of days absent from school.” In comparison, factors relating to rural adolescents' suicide behavior are “Felt sad or hopeless,” “Physical fight,” “Physical fight resulting in injury,” and “Drive a vehicle after drinking alcohol.” Conclusion Adolescent suicide behavior should be viewed as a serious problem. Measures can be taken to prevent suicide by looking at the factors significantly linked to suicidal behavior among adolescents. Steps can then be taken to identify adolescents who have serious suicidal ideation so that intervention can be taken to reduce the suicidal rate.

Drinking pattern among adolescents with immigrant and Norwegian backgrounds: A two‐way influence?

To assess the association between drinking behaviour among adolescents with both immigrant and native backgrounds with aspects of acculturation. Cross-sectional school survey among 15-16 year olds. All students, a total of 8361, in 10th grade during spring 2000 and 2001 in Oslo, Norway with response rate 88.3%. The sample consisted of 1213 students with an immigrant background and 4627 students with a Norwegian background. Indicators of the length of the acculturation process were assessed as first versus second generation and in terms of length of stay in Norway. The proportion of Muslim students in school was an indicator of social environment 'dryness'. Drinking behaviour was assessed as drinking alcohol ever, drinking frequency and intoxication frequency. A smaller proportion of immigrant students were current drinkers, frequent drinkers and drank to intoxication compared with adolescents with a Norwegian background. Adjusted two-level analyses showed that alcohol drinking was less common among immigrant students with a short stay in Norway and with a large proportion of Muslim students in school. In those with a Norwegian background there was a larger proportion of abstainers, and those who drank did so less frequently and were less frequently intoxicated the larger the proportion of Muslim students there was in their school. Drinking behaviour among adolescents in a multicultural and heterogeneous society seems to reflect a bi-directional acculturation process where the majority population tend to adapt to the behaviours of the immigrant population which in turn, to a varying degree, tends to adapt to the behaviour of the majority population.

Smoking among Secondary School Students in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

This study was done to determine the prevalence of smoking and factors influencing cigarette smoking among secondary school students in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional school survey conducted on 4500 adolescent students based on a structured questionnaire. Data was collected using the supervised self-administered questionnaire the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance in the Malaysian National Language Bahasa Malaysia. The prevalence of smoking among the students was 14.0%. About a third of the students (37.8%) started smoking at 13 to 14 years of age. The prevalence of smoking among the male students was higher (26.6%) compared to the female students (3.1%). Adolescent smoking was associated with (1) sociodemographic factors (age, ethnicity, rural/urban status); (2) environmental factors (parental smoking, staying with parents); (3) behavioural factors (playing truant and risk-taking behaviours such as physical fighting, drug use, alcohol use, sexual activity, lack of seatbelt use, riding with a drunk driver); (4) lifestyle behaviours (being on diet and lack of exercise); (5) personal factors (feeling sad and suicidal behaviours). In conclusion, smoking is a major problem among Malaysian adolescents. Certain groups of adolescents tend to be at higher risk of smoking. This problem should be curbed early by targeting these groups of high risk adolescents.

Intoxicants and suicidal behaviour among adolescents: changes in levels and associations from 1992 to 2002

To assess whether a substantial increase in substance use over a 10-year period has had an impact on the level of, or associations with, non-fatal suicidal behaviour among Norwegian teenagers. Two cross-sectional school surveys applying identical procedures and measures in 1992 and 2002, using national samples comprising 11 000 and 12 000 13-19-year-old students. A significant proportion of the increase in the prevalence of attempted suicide among girls could be attributed to the increase in substance use, taking into account other risk and protective factors. Among boys no net increase in the prevalence of attempted suicide was observed, and the impact of substance use on suicidal behaviour was lower in 2002 than in 1992. Yet, it also appeared that unobserved protective factors may have countered the impact of increased substance use among boys. For both genders a larger fraction of attempted suicides was attributable to alcohol intoxication than to use of any other substance. A significant increase in use of alcohol and drugs may not necessarily be reflected in changes in the level of suicidal behaviour. Further studies applying other data sources and designs are warranted to supplement and validate the present findings.

Sexual behaviour of adolescents in Nigeria: cross sectional survey of secondary school students

Objectives: To determine whether family structure (polygamous or monogamous) is associated with sexual activity among school students in Nigeria.Design: Cross sectional school survey with a two stage, clustered sampling design.Participants:...

Drinking, other substance use and suicidal ideation in middle adolescence: a population study

Aims To assess the relationship between self-reported suicidal ideation and alcohol and other substance use among 14-16-year-olds. Design, setting, participants A cross sectional school survey of 16 464 subjects aged 14-16 years in two Finnish regions. Findings Alcohol use frequency and any use of substances other than alcohol were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Of girls (boys) who reported drinking weekly, 8% (7%) reported severe suicidal ideation compared with 1% (0.7%) of those not drinking. Of girls (boys) who reported use of substances other than alcohol five times or more, 13% (21%) reported severe suicidal ideation, compared with 1.3% (1.1%) of those who had no use of substances other than possibly alcohol. These associations persisted in multivariate analyses controlling for depressive symptoms and sociodemographic background. Conclusions Frequent alcohol use and use of substances other than alcohol independently indicate a risk for adolescent suicidal ideation and may thus represent an early warning signal for attempted suicides. School and health service personnel should pay attention to adolescents who drink frequently or experiment with or use drugs to improve the identification of suicidality and the possibilities for early intervention.

Moscow Students’ Drug Use: school survey results

Context: A cross-sectional school survey on drug use and related attitudes among students to ascertain the prevalence of substance use, and to serve as a baseline from which to develop prevention and education materials for primary school. Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to make recommendations for a drug prevention and education curriculum for primary school. The objectives of the study were to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to substance use and abuse among school children. Setting: Five public schools of the Northern District of Moscow, Russia. Participants: 1099 school students 10-15 years old. Results: Alcohol is the drug of choice among Moscow‗s students. Extensive experience with alcohol is normal behaviour for many. Tobacco smoking is highly prevalent as well. The use of illicit drugs among students is not at all high in comparison with alcohol use or tobacco smoking. Conclusions: The school survey data suggest that the development of a school-based substance abuse prevention and education programme should be based mainly on promotion of healthy lifestyles.

The assessment of a large snail control programme over three-year period in the Gezira Irrigated Area of the Sudan.

The control of the snail vectors of schistosomiasis by aerial application of the molluscicide N-trityl morpholine was carried out in a 80 000 ha area from 1974 to 1977. The effect of this molluscicide regimen on transmission of Schistosoma mansoni was monitored by longitudinal surveys in a number of schools and in pre-school-age children. A cross-sectional school survey was carried out in 1977.There was no significant difference in incidence between the treated area and an adjacent untreated area as measured by the longitudinal school survey, the longitudinal village survey, or the cross-sectional survey. Consideration of egg output and prevalence (as determined by ELISA test) also failed to reveal any difference between the two areas.The initial prevalence and intensity in the subjects selected from the treated area were higher than in the untreated area, and some villages showed possible transmission reduction. In general, however, the results showed a great variation in infection rates and intensity wi...