Health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province and some associated factors

Tóm tắt

Objective: Risky health behaviors have an impact on physical and mental health. Data on health risk behaviors among students in Vietnam are limited. This study aims to describe and identify associated factors of health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 600 students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam in July - 2022.

Results: There was 25.5% of participants had at least 1 health risk behavior. History of alcohol consumption was the most frequent of health risk behavior. There were 9 students had sexual intercourse. The final multi-variable logistics regression showed that students aged 14 years (aOR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.28 – 4.20) or 16 years (aOR 7.02, 95%CI: 2.57 – 20.41) or 18 years (aOR5.58, 95%CI: 1.48 – 21.63) had a higher chance to have health risk behaviors than 13-years-old students. Female students (aOR: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.34 – 0.75) had lower rate of health risk behaviors than male students. We also found history of using tobacco (aOR: 15.7, 95%CI: 3.07 – 103.89) was associated with the history of having sex in participants.

Conclusions: The prevalence of health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in Ha Nam was quite high. There should be more prevention, activities and consultation for students aged 13-18 in Viet Nam.