Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Liew Hoe Chin. 95, Taman Makmur, Off Jln. Tun Dr. Ismail, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. E-mail: maximilienliew@hotmail.com
  • 2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
JUMMEC, 2011;14(2):1-8.
MyJurnal

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Health-risky behaviours among undergraduates are a course of concern both due to its tendency to be carried towards later adulthood and the emergence of non-communicable diseases at younger age group.
METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional study involving 1622 respondents comprising of students undertaking tertiary education was carried out using self-administered questionnaires. (adapted and translated into Bahasa Malaysia from the CDC Health Risk Behaviour Survey)
RESULTS: It is found that 6.9% of the respondents have had sexual intercourse with the mean age of the first intercourse at 18.6 years. Of those who have had intercourse, 25.9% did not practice safe sex. The study showed that 7.2% of the undergraduates who drives have driven after taking alcohol and 19.3% of the respondents have travelled in a car driven by drunk driver. It is also found that 10.8% of the respondents tried smoking at a young age of 15 years. One point two percent (1.2%) of the studied population has also taken recreational drugs previously.
CONCLUSION: Health risk behaviours among undergraduates in Malaysia are presently existing issues which poses serious concerns.