2011-12-31-世界卫生组织-2012_GSHS_Fact_sheet_Iraq_2页_66kb

Summary of 2012 Iraq GSHS Fact Sheet

Introduction

The 2012 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in Iraq assessed health behaviors among students aged 13-15 years, including dietary behaviors, drug use, hygiene, mental health, physical activity, protective factors, tobacco use, and violence/unintentional injury. The survey used a two-stage cluster sampling design with a high response rate of 88%, involving 2038 students from grades 1st to 3rd Intermediate.

Methodology

• Design: Two-stage cluster sampling, with schools selected based on enrollment size and classes randomly chosen.
• Response Rates: School response rate 94%, student response rate 94%, overall response rate 88%.
• Participants: A total of 2038 students participated, and data were self-reported using computer-scannable answer sheets for comparison purposes.

Key Findings

Dietary Behaviors

• Underweight prevalence was low.
• Overweight and obesity rates were high, with notable gender differences.
• High consumption of carbonated soft drinks was reported.

Drug Use

• Some lifetime marijuana use was documented, with a significant percentage of users initiating drug use before age 14.

Hygiene

• Poor adherence to hygiene practices, such as infrequent teeth cleaning and rarely washing hands after using the toilet.

Mental Health

• Elevated levels of suicidal ideation and attempts were observed.
• A majority of students reported lacking close friends.

Physical Activity

• Low levels of physical activity and reduced time spent in physical education classes.
• High rates of sedentary behaviors, spending excessive time on sitting activities.

Protective Factors

• High incidence of unexcused absences from school.
• Substantial parental understanding and monitoring of students' problems and free time.

Tobacco Use

• Limited cigarette smoking was reported, with early initiation noted among many users.

Violence and Unintentional Injury

• Common experiences included physical fights and bullying.
• High rates of serious injuries and violence were evident.