title: Factor structure of health and oral health-related behaviors among adolescents in Arusha, northern Tanzania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of health and oral health-related behaviors and it's invariance across gender and to identify factors associated with behavioral patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study included 2412 students attending 20 secondary schools in Arusha. Self-administered questionnaires were completed at school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Principal component analysis of seven single health and oral health-related behaviors (tooth brushing, hand wash after latrine, hand wash before eating, using soap, intake of sugared mineral water, intake of fast foods and intake of sweets) suggested two factors labeled hygiene behavior and snacking. Confirmatory factor analyses, CFA, provided acceptable fit for the hypothesized two-factor model; CFI = 0.97. Multiple group CFA across gender showed no statistically significant difference in fit between unconstrained and constrained models (p = 0.203). Logistic regression revealed ORs for hygiene behaviors of 1.5, 0.5, 1.5, 1.5 and 0.6 if being a girl, current smoker, reporting good relationship with school, access to hygiene facilities and bad life satisfaction, respectively. ORs for snacking were 1.3, 1.4, 0.4 and 0.5 if female, in the least poor household quartile, low family socio-economic status and high perceived control, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two factors suggest that behaviors within each might be approached jointly in health promoting programs. A positive relationship with school and access to hygiene facilities might play a role in health promotion. Provision of healthy snacks and improved perceived behavioral control regarding sugar avoidance might restrict snacking during school hours.
authors: Department of Clinical Dentistry, Community Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway. anne.nordrehaug@cih.uib.no
authors: Anne Nordrehaug
authors: AN
authors: Astrøm
authors: Hawa
authors: H
authors: Mbawalla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D060766:Drinking Water; D004435:Eating; D057140:Fast Foods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008900:Mineral Waters; D009909:Oral Health; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012915:Soaps / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012923:Social Class; D013636:Tanzania; D014038:Toilet Facilities; D014099:Toothbrushing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D060766:Drinking Water; D008900:Mineral Waters; D012915:Soaps