RESUMO
Adolescence is a difficult and dangerous period of transition from childhood to adulthood. This population segment is exposed to a variety of health problems including; iron deficiency anemia, obesity, and dental caries, under nutrition, smoking, substance abuse and psychological problems. Objectives: This study is conducted to assess some of adolescents health problems and to explore their underlying factors. Also, it assesses the impact of an applied educational program for the most feasible problem. The study is composed of two phases, the first one is a cross sectional study that is conducted on a suitable sample size of preparatory, secondary school and university adolescents during the academic year 2004-2005. A multistage sampling technique is used for sample selection. A self-administered questionnaire is used to collect the following data; sociodemographic, dietary history, some lifestyle factors and depressionanxiety scale. Clinical examination, anthropomctric measurements and some laboratory tests arc done for the students. The second phase is an intervention one that is conducted after data collection, analysis and prioritization of health problems. Parasitic infection took the first priority to be solved, and the infected students are divided into intervention and control groups. A self-administered questionnaire is used to assess knowledge and practice of both groups regarding parasitic infection. The intervention group is subjected to medical treatment and an educational program while the control one is subjected to medical treatment only. After 2 months all participants are asked to complete the same questionnaire and stool analysis is done for them. The first phase of study showed many health problems among the studies adolescents, which are in sequence; dental caries, anaemia, parasitic infection, obesity, underweight, smoking, anxiety and depression. It was found that dental caries, anaemia, parasitic infection, underweight and depression were significantly associated with rural adolescents belonging to low social class. While, obesity and smoking were significantly associated with urban ones belonging to high social class. Anemia, obesity, anxiety and depression were more prevalent among females, while underweight and smoking were more among males. The problem of obesity was associated with those taking snacks and four meals or more, and not practicing exercise regularly. However, underweight was associated with those were taking less number of meals not and were not taking snacks. Finally, anxiety and depression, both were associated with smoking and absence of qxercise practice. The second phase showed reduction in the percentage of students who were infected by parasitic infection in both control and intervention groups with significant reduction in the intervention group reflecting the great impact of the educational program. The adolescents are exposed to some health problems and by assessing their knowledge about parasitic infestation, it was found to be relatively deficient. So, the study recommended a regular health appraisal for early detection, management in addition to application of a sustained health education program aiming to improve their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the common health problems