Abstract

CEREZO CORREA, María del Pilar et al. PUBLIC HEALTH CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MANIZALES. Hacia promoc. Salud [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.1, pp.73-86. ISSN 0121-7577.

Objective: to analyze the public health characteristics of students from a private University in Manizales. Materials and method: descriptive study with probabilistic sampling with a 95% reliability level and a 4.5% error margin, random selection and proportional distribution. Sample size: 465 students. Univariate and multivariate analysis was applied. Results: 22% of the students smoke cigarettes despite their gender. The conglomerate analysis showed two well differentiated groups. The first group was characterized because its members were men, they had their first sexual intercourse at 14 with a friend after having dated for some weeks, they were in risk of alcoholism, they were consuming psychoactive drugs different from cigarettes, and they practiced physical activity in their free time and tried to gain weight. The second group was made up of women and it was characterized because the had their first sexual intercourse when they were 19 and 22 years old with their boyfriend, after some years of relationship, they were not in risk of alcoholism, they did not consume psychoactive drugs different from cigarettes, they did not practice any sport in their free time and tried to lose weight. Conclusions: the frequency of condom use is high and it is used with the double purpose of preventing STDs and pregnancy. The use of illicit psychoactive substances is statistically low, and, because of their effects on health, it is a priority to prevent abuse. Cigarette and alcohol consumption is still the first place among the risk factors for health. Even though they have much free time, only half of the students use this time to practice a physical activity.

Keywords : Students; public health; sexuality; diet; smoking.

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