Health-risk behaviors among Iranian university students, 2019: a web-based survey
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RESEARCH
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Health-risk behaviors among Iranian university students, 2019: a web-based survey Farhad Shekari1, Peyman Habibi1, Haidar Nadrian2 and Asghar Mohammadpoorasl3*
Abstract Background: High-risk behaviors are among the most serious threats for the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults. Our aims in this study were to investigate the subgroups of students based on risky behaviors and to identify the prevalence rate of these subgroups. Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from July to August 2019 in Tabriz, Iran. We performed proportional sampling in all nine universities of the city, according to the number of students in each university. Applying an online survey questionnaire, the data were collected from 3649 students and analyzed using Latent Class Analysis. Results: For total sample, standardized prevalence rates of cigarette smoking, hookah use, alcohol consumption, substance abuse and unsafe sex were 18.5 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 17.3–19.8), 9.1 (CI 95%: 8.2–10.1), 9.2 (CI 95%: 8.3–10.2), 8.3 (CI 95%: 7.4–9.3) and 14.5 (CI 95%: 13.3–15.7), respectively. Three latent classes of risky behaviors were determined among students: a) low risk b) smoking and c) high risk. About 18% of boys and 1.5% of girls were in the high risk class. Cigarette smoking (18.5%, CI 95%: 17.3–19.8) and substance abuse (8.3%, CI 95%: 7.4–9.3) were the most and the least common risky behaviors among the students. Conclusion: In this we-based survey, a considerable number of students, particularly boys (18%), was at high-risk class, stressing the need for preventive interventions for this group of youth. Our findings are beneficial for planning and development of risky-behavior preventive strategies to prevent high-risk behaviors among college students. Keywords: Web-based survey, Latent class analysis, Risky behaviors, Students
Background Performing risky behaviors, individuals expose themselves potentially to risks of harm [1]. High-risk behaviors are associated with increased risks of chronic diseases, premature mortality and disability, and have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of individuals [2]. Risky behaviors are also one of the most serious risk factors for * Correspondence: [email protected] 3 Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
adolescent and young people’s (12–18 years old) physical and mental health. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high-risk sexual behaviors, and drug abuse are among the most risky behaviors which may increase the likelihood of harmful physical, psychological and social consequences for individuals [3]. Drug use, alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors account for 2, 7, and 4% of disabilityadjusted life years (DALY), respectively, among individuals with 15 to 24 years of age [4]. Considering their negative consequences, high-risk behaviors are among the most important a
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