Health and behaviours of Tunisian school youth in an era of rapid epidemiological transition.
To assess youth health behaviours and related quality of life in urban Tunisia, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 699 secondary-school students. The overweight rate was 20.7%. Most of the sample had an insufficient level of physical activity and were unfamiliar with the recommended frequency of moderate physical activity. Norm-based scores of psychological state were about average, slightly better for boys than girls. Girls perceived themselves to be more stressed than boys. Of all students, 35% declared having smoked a cigarette and 14% having drunk alcohol at least once in their lives. The main sources of health education were mass media (59%) and medical staff (36%).
Aounallah-Skhiri
H
H
Institut National de la Santé Publique (INSP), Tunis, Tunisia. hajer.skhiri@rns.tn
Ben Romdhane
H
H
Maire
B
B
Elkhdim
H
H
Eymard-Duvernay
S
S
Delpeuch
F
F
Achour
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data