INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of university students regarding acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
METHODS: A randomised controlled trial of 530 university students was done using peer-adult facilitators. Participants completed a questionnaire before and after the intervention, which was a four-hour group session. A prevention programme was developed by local experts, health educators and peer facilitators. The peer-adult-led programme was designed to provide a conceptual model of HIV risk reduction through information, motivational and behavioural skills, a harm reduction module and health promotion theme.
RESULTS: The main outcome measured was the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour scores. The results suggest that relative to the control group, participants in the intervention group had higher levels of knowledge (30.37 vs. 25.40; p-value is 0.001) and a better attitude (12.27 vs. 10.84; p-value is 0.001). However, there was no difference in the behavioural score (9.47 vs. 9.41; p-value is 0.530). The correlation between the level of knowledge and age and the level of education was found in the intervention group, but not in the control group (p-value is 0.01). Attitude and gender were found to be correlated in the intervention group only (p-value is 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Our programme was successful in increasing knowledge and improving attitudes towards AIDS and HIV. However, it did not improve risk-taking behaviour. Peer-adult-led educational programmes for youth using various interactional activities, such as small group discussions, poster activity and empathy exercises, can be successful in changing the prevailing youth perceptions of AIDS and HIV.
BACKGROUND: This study assessed the construct validity of a measure of nicotine dependence that was used in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).
METHODS: Using 2007-2009 data from the GYTS, subjects from 6 countries were used to assess current smokers' odds of reporting time to first cigarette or craving positive (TTFC/C+) by the number of cigarette smoking days per month (DPM) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD).
RESULTS: The percentage of GYTS smokers who reported TTFC/C+ ranged from 58.0% to 69.7%. Compared with students who smoked on 1-2 DPM, those who smoked on 3-9 DPM had 3 times the adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+. The adjusted odds of reporting TTFC/C+ were 3 to 7 times higher among those who smoked 10-29 DPM and 6 to 20 times higher among daily smokers. Similarly, the adjusted odds of TTFC/C+ were 3-6 times higher among those who smoked 2-5 CPD and 6 to 20 times higher among those who smoked >6 CPD, compared to those who smoked <1 CPD.
CONCLUSION: Associations of TTFC/C+ prevalence with both frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking provide a construct validation of the GYTS question used to assess respondents' TTFC/C status.
Study site: Six countries: Argentina 2007, Jordan 2007; Malaysia 2009; Slovakia 2007; South Africa 2008; Thailand 2009
Study name: Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)
This study investigated the determinants of overweight/obesity in adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 1157 adolescents. Weight and height were measured. Information on socio-economic status (SES), dietary intakes, physical activity, and sedentary behaviours were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Binary and multivariate binary logistic regressions were used to obtain the relationships and odds-ratios, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among adolescents in low- or high-income families, adolescents whose mothers worked out of home, adolescents whose parents were both overweight, adolescents who watched a lot of TV or had excessive energy intake, adolescents with lower physical activity or lower intake of dietary fibre, those who skipped breakfast ≥ 4 times per week, and those with low and high fat intake. However, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only energy intake was associated with increased odds and vegetables and fibre intake were associated with a reduction in the odds of being overweight (all p<0.05). Adolescents from middle SES showed a lower risk of overweight/obesity than low and high SES due to better dietary intakes and less sedentary behaviours. Therefore, in overweight/obesity prevention programs, adolescents with determined risk factors from families with low and high SES should receive attention.
To analyse the self-reported degree of and factors influencing the compliance to desferrioxamine (DFO) therapy in children with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia major in Malaysia.
The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of the common health problems namely acne, overweight, smoking and depressive symptoms among adolescents attending a primary healthcare clinic, whether they seek treatment for these problems and the reasons for not consulting health professionals. It was a clinic-based, crosssectional study. All adolescents aged 13 to 20 years who attended the clinic during the study period were included in the study. The respondents were given self-administered questionnaires and their weights were measured to assess if they had the above disorders. A total of 215 adolescents were included in the study. The proportion of adolescents who had acne were 70.7%, overweight 8.9%, smoking 41.9% and depressive symptoms 9.8%. Only 25% of those who had acne, 47% of those who were overweight, 9.5% who had depressive symptoms and none of those who smoked had ever sought treatment for these problems. The common reasons given for not consulting the health professionals were 'did not consider it as a problem', 'shy' and 'thought there was no treatment available'. The majority of the adolescents who attended the clinic did not consult health professionals the above common health problems. It is important to educate them on these disorders and encourage health-seeking behaviour in adolescents.