title: [Healthcare patterns and life styles in adolescents from three schools in Popayán, Colombia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identifying healthy practice and risky behavior in students from Popayan in June and December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was across-sectional study in 3 schools in Popayan. The information was collected using the Global School Health Survey (GSHS), validated by the WHO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 55.2 % of teenagers tried smoking for the first time between 10 and 12 years of age. The single largest group regarding trying/starting to drink alcohol was 13 to 15 years of age. Episodes of solitude were experienced around 14 years of age and the early onset of sexual activity was concerning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirmed the presence of risk factors for chronic diseases, violence and HIV infection in this study population.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia, pvernaza@unicauca.edu.co.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vernaza-Pinzón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia, mpinzon@unicauca.edu.co.
authors.forename: María V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Pinzón
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires