Risk behaviors in adolescence – a study in a Portuguese health unit
-
Inês Medeiros
,
Catarina Faria
Abstract
Introduction
Adolescence is a time of social and self-affirmation, search of autonomy and pleasure. An early sexual debut and substance use are still public health problems.
Objectives
To assess the prevalence of illicit drug use and sexual behavior of adolescents, ages 15– 17, followed in a Portuguese Family Health Unit.
Material and methods
This was a cross sectional descriptive study of a random convenience sample. Data were obtained from an anonymous and confidential questionnaire, given to patients at adolescent consultation, between the months of May and July 2016. Statistical significance p < 0.05.
Results
This study involved a sample of 134 adolescents, 54.5% girls. It was revealed that 73.1% of adolescents have tried alcohol, from which 18.7% experienced intoxication at least once. Regarding tobacco, 35.1% have tried it, 23.4% are regular users. Regarding cannabinoids, 7.5% of adolescents stated to have tried them once, or to consume them regularly. Adolescents start to experiment with tobacco earlier than with alcohol (9 years old vs. 11 years old), with a mean age of 15 years old. Regarding sexual behavior, 23.8% are sexually active, from which 9.4% do not use any form of contraception. Smoking behavior was a predictor of the consumption of illicit drugs, and it was found a significantly statistic association between sexual activity and substance use, p = 0.04.
Discussion
By descending order, the alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs consumption are still worrisome and can affect the life of adolescents. Primarily health care and pediatric consultation should provide strategies for prevention and promotion of a healthy lifestyle for adolescents.
References
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©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Original Articles
- Awareness and practices of menstrual hygiene among females of reproductive age in rural Puducherry – a mixed method study
- Many hours of watching medical TV shows is associated with greater medical knowledge
- Spatio-temporal trends in the risk of adolescent pregnancy in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2000–2015
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- The relationship between anxiety and social support in male and female students in high schools in the southeast of Iran
- Cannabis and amphetamine use and socio-ecological (proximal and distal) factors among school-going adolescents in four countries in the Caribbean and four countries in South America
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- Prevalence and associated factors for social phobia among school-going adolescents in a rural area of Puducherry, South India
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- Prevalence of pediculosis and its related factors among primary school girls in the north of Iran
- Risk behaviors in adolescence – a study in a Portuguese health unit
- Statistical analysis for the impact of smoking on the behavior and health of Qatari adolescents
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- Intake of fruit, vegetables and milk products and correlates among school boys in Saudi Arabia
- Determinants of early marriage among female adolescent in Indonesia
- Social health needs of Iranian male adolescents
- Radiation and its associated health risks: assessment of knowledge and risk perception among adolescents and young adults in Saudi Arabia
- What does social media have to do with health? A case study of Bangkok youths
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- Prevalence of traumatic injuries to the anterior teeth among 3–17-year-old school children of Indore and correlating it with Kuppuswamy SES, occlusal relationship and ascertaining percentage of those seeking the treatment
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- Depression in a sample of Tunisian adolescents: prevalence, associated factors and comorbidity with anxiety disorders
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- Short Communications
- Violence depicted in advertisements on LinkNYC kiosks in Manhattan, New York City
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Original Articles
- Awareness and practices of menstrual hygiene among females of reproductive age in rural Puducherry – a mixed method study
- Many hours of watching medical TV shows is associated with greater medical knowledge
- Spatio-temporal trends in the risk of adolescent pregnancy in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2000–2015
- Sexual behaviour and its correlates among adolescents in Brunei Darussalam
- The relationship between anxiety and social support in male and female students in high schools in the southeast of Iran
- Cannabis and amphetamine use and socio-ecological (proximal and distal) factors among school-going adolescents in four countries in the Caribbean and four countries in South America
- Gender differences in concussion-related knowledge, attitudes and reporting-behaviours among high school student-athletes
- Determinants of overweight and obesity among urban school-going children and adolescents: a case-control study in Bangladesh
- Addiction to the Internet and mobile phones and its relationship with loneliness in Iranian adolescents
- Prevalence and associated factors for social phobia among school-going adolescents in a rural area of Puducherry, South India
- Self-efficacy of osteoporosis preventive behaviors and its predictors in Iranian adolescents
- Prevalence of pediculosis and its related factors among primary school girls in the north of Iran
- Risk behaviors in adolescence – a study in a Portuguese health unit
- Statistical analysis for the impact of smoking on the behavior and health of Qatari adolescents
- Risk behaviors screening in Thai adolescents with acute and chronic illnesses
- Prenatal and early life origins of adolescence sleep problems: evidence from a birth cohort
- Intake of fruit, vegetables and milk products and correlates among school boys in Saudi Arabia
- Determinants of early marriage among female adolescent in Indonesia
- Social health needs of Iranian male adolescents
- Radiation and its associated health risks: assessment of knowledge and risk perception among adolescents and young adults in Saudi Arabia
- What does social media have to do with health? A case study of Bangkok youths
- Determining the development of syntax in typically-developing Indian adolescents using a syntactic analysis package
- Prevalence of traumatic injuries to the anterior teeth among 3–17-year-old school children of Indore and correlating it with Kuppuswamy SES, occlusal relationship and ascertaining percentage of those seeking the treatment
- Impaired dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in pubertal gynecomastia
- Can upper limb taping or exercises improve hand function, writing speed and self-perception of performance in adolescent school children?
- Hemihyperplasia/hemihypertrophy in adolescents: prospective international study
- Depression in a sample of Tunisian adolescents: prevalence, associated factors and comorbidity with anxiety disorders
- Predictors of sexual function in pregnant Iranian adolescents
- Spiritual belief and its link with potentially addictive behaviors in a youth sample in Switzerland
- Short Communications
- Violence depicted in advertisements on LinkNYC kiosks in Manhattan, New York City
- Major food groups contributing to sodium intake in school-attending adolescents
