Clustering of Oral and General Health Risk Behaviors in Korean Adolescents: A National Representative Sample

We aimed to determine factors related to tooth fracture experience in Korean adolescents. This study used data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2018, a cross-sectional web-based survey of health-risk behaviors among a representative sample of Korean middle- and high-school students aged 12–17 years. A total of 60,040 participants were selected using a complex sampling design of the survey from 400 middle schools and 400 high schools. They answered a self-administered questionnaire survey in classrooms. Explanatory variables included those pertaining to health-risk behaviors, mental health, and physical exercise. Complex-sample multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify factors related to tooth fracture experience in the past 12 months. The overall prevalence of dental fracture experience was 11.4%. Risk factors related to tooth fractures in Korean adolescents were unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco consumption; mental health problems including stress, depression, and suicidal ideation; and intensive physical exercise. The major risk factor related to tooth fractures was depression. To prevent tooth fractures among adolescents, schools should strengthen mental health education, encourage mouthguard use during intensive physical exercise, and develop school environments to prevent orofacial injuries. Further studies on various risk factors related to tooth fractures are warranted.

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The relationships between sexual risk behaviors and general health risk behaviors among unmarried youth in Thailand

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312118813284 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205031211881328

Author(s):

Tawima Sirirassamee ◽

Dusadee Yoelao ◽

Kanu Priya Mohan ◽

Supakorn Limkhunthummo

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Health Risk ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Sexual Risk Behavior ◽

General Health ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviors ◽

Health Risk Behaviors

Objectives: The prevalence and correlates of sexual risk behaviors among unmarried youth in Thailand are poorly documented. The objectives of this study were to compare the differences in sexual behaviors across age groups and gender and to identify the relationships between sexual risk behaviors and general health risk behaviors among unmarried Thai youth. Methods: A population-based, nationally representative, cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2013. The Thai version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 800 unmarried Thai youth. Results: Majority of the respondents (65.9%) had not engaged in any sexual risk behavior, 18.7% had engaged in 2–3 sexual risk behaviors, and only 5.5% had engaged in a single sexual risk behavior. Current sexually active youth had higher risk of participating in physical fights (odds ratio = 3.41, 95% confidence interval = 1.53–7.57), smoking cigarette (odds ratio = 4.05, 95% confidence interval = 1.89–8.67), and drinking alcohol (odds ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.08–4.36). Conclusion: Thai youth were more likely to be involved in multiple sexual risk behaviors than a single sexual risk behavior. Physical fighting was the strongest general health risk behavior associated with the sexual risk behaviors, followed by substance abuse.

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