Abstract

TUESCA MOLINA, Rafael et al. Health-related habits of preteens at a public institution in the village of Soledad (Atlántico). Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2007, vol.23, n.2, pp.135-149. ISSN 0120-5552.

Objective: To identify public schools preteens habits in the Village of Soledad Atlántico. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to a sample of 576 students, categorized by school grades. An adapted Spanish survey was apply to measure health costumes in our region. The tabulation of results was done in SPSS Version 13 in Spanish. Results: In males, as they grow into adolescence, the physical activity decreases. The use of alcohol and drugs and unprotected sex increases. Their behavior is risky (not wearing helmets while riding in motorcycles, not walking on designated areas for pedestrians, and getting involved in violent situations). In females was observed that as they grow into adolescence, they start avoiding breakfast, drink more alcohol, have unprotected sex, and have the same rate to have accidents as males. Conclusions: The teen years are related with dangerous and very poor health behavior. To adapt healthy school environment strategies, is important to consider risky factors in this group, with the sole purpose of changing and improve the potential inside and out of the field through the support of the community, school, and services.

Keywords : Eating habits; adolescence; risk behavior; healthy school environments; physical activity.

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