Health-risk behaviors related to road safety among adolescent students.
BACKGROUND
Injuries are now a major cause of death and disability among the adolescents in the world. Road accidents are the main cause of death of young men worldwide.


OBJECTIVE
To study health-risk behavior related to road safety amongst adolescent students in south Delhi and its epidemiological correlates.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Three schools and two colleges in south Delhi.


METHODS
Five hundred fifty adolescent students aged 14-19 years selected by cluster sampling.


METHODS
Proportions, Chi-square test, multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
More than half (52.4%) reported 'not always' wearing a seat belt. About 72.1% (300) of two-wheeler riders reported 'not always' and 23.3% (97) reported 'never' wearing a helmet. Nearly 20% (91) students rode with a driver who had alcohol before driving, and 37.3% (185) subjects had driven with a driver not possessing a driving license, in the past 30 days. Such 'road-hazard' behaviors were found to be significantly more in males and in lower-age groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant correlates of such behaviors were gender of the respondent and living status of the parents. Almost 77.5% (426) of the respondents were 'at risk' as far as behaviors related to safety on roads are concerned.


CONCLUSIONS
The results should evoke earnest responses from the government, policy makers and all personnel concerned with adolescent welfare on how best to reduce the extent of this preventable problem.
Sharma
Rahul
R
Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. studycorner@gmail.com
Grover
Vijay L
VL
Chaturvedi
S
S
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety