Epidemiological Study Of Risky Behaviours And Their Relation With Mental Ill Health Among Secondary School Students In Cairo

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 departments of Community Medicine, Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Al-Azhar and Zagazig University

2 Community Health Nursing Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Al-Azhar and Zagazig University

Abstract

A cross-sectional design was carried out on 827 students from general and technical secondary schools in Cairo. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of risky behaviours among the studied students, to assess their relation with sociodemographic factors and psychological problems and to explore student’s attitude toward these behaviours. The data were collected by a standardized interviewing form. Different psychological symptoms were assessed using Middle Sex Hospital Questionnaire. The study showed, 54.1% of the students were having unhealthy diet and tobacco smoking behaviours. Also, all the risky behaviours, except absence of physical exercise practice and suicide attempt, were more common among boys. The most important sociodemographic risk factors were; positive family history of risky behaviours, one parent family and the student's work beside studying (OR=7.11, 4.07 and 3.37, respectively). The most important reasons for unhealthy diet, carrying weapon and engagement in casual sex were imitation (55.2%), to feel grown up (47.1%) and peer pressure (39.1%), respectively. While, the most common psychological problem was hysteria (15.1%) and the most common neurotic trait was sadness (41.9%). The most important psychological problems risk factors were obsession and hysteria (OR=5.53 and 4.59, respectively). While, the most important neurotic traits risk were irritability and sadness (OR=9.53 and 8.05, respectively). No awareness to the reported risk was present among 96.4% of the students having the risky behaviours (OR=6.41).

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