RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed youth health in the Caribbean Community and Common Market countries and describes the prevalence of health-related factors. METHODS: We used a self-administered classroom questionnaire; questions addressed general health, health care, nutrition, sexual history, drug use, mental health, violence, family characteristics, and relationships with others. RESULTS: Most youths reported good health; however, 1 in 10 reported a limiting disability or significant health problems. Violence was a pervasive concern. Of those who reported history of sexual intercourse, many reported that their first intercourse was forced, and nearly half reported that they were aged 10 years or younger when they first had intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: Although most young people are healthy, problems indicate the importance of monitoring trends and designing effective youth health programs.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente , Proteção da Criança/estatística & dados numéricos , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Nível de Saúde , Adolescente , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição do Adolescente , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Autoimagem , Sexualidade , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Violência/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify, among youths, factors associated with characteristics such as poor health status, substance use, and suicide risk and to explore the extent to which the risk and protective factors identified cut across health-compromising behaviors. METHODS: A survey was administered to representative samples of young people from 9 Caribbean countries. RESULTS: Physical/sexual abuse and having a friend or relative who had attempted suicide were associated with an increased prevalence of health-compromising behaviors. Connectedness with parents and school and attendance at religious services were associated with fewer health risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: When the identified risk and protective factors were compared with those seen among young people in the United States, similarities as well as important differences were found.
Assuntos
Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Indicadores Básicos de Saúde , Assunção de Riscos , Adolescente , Sintomas Afetivos/epidemiologia , Sistema de Vigilância de Fator de Risco Comportamental , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Criança , Família/psicologia , Humanos , Relações Pais-Filho , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Comportamento Sexual/estatística & dados numéricos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Tentativa de Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Violência/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
A 225-item questionnaire was completed by 5163 female 7th, 9th and 11th grade public school students in their classrooms to examine factors associated with eating disorders among girls involved in weight-related sports. Eating disorder symptoms were found in almost one third of girls involved in weight-related and non-weight-related sports. However, after controlling for grade, race, SES, and study design effect, girls in weight-related sports were 51% more likely to have eating disorder symptoms. Also, among girls in weight-related sports who had eating disorders, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse history, depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, low family communication, and low parental caring were 98% to 377% more common.
