2008-12-31-世界卫生组织-2009_GSHS_Fact_Sheet_Costa_Rica_2页_94kb

Summary of Global School-based Student Health Survey in Costa Rica (2009)

Background and Methodology:
The 2009 Costa Rica Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was a school-based survey targeting students in grades 7-9, specifically focusing on those aged 13-15 years. A two-stage cluster sampling design was used, with a school response rate of 100% and a student response rate of 72%, involving a total of 2679 participants. The survey measured various health behaviors, including alcohol use, dietary habits, drug use, hygiene, mental health, physical activity, protective factors, sexual behaviors, tobacco use, and violence/unintentional injuries. Data for analysis includes only students aged 13-15.

Key Findings by Category:

• Alcohol Use: Approximately 23.6% of students reported consuming alcohol on one or more days in the past 30 days. Among those who ever used alcohol except a few sips, 79.7% had their first drink before age 14. About 15.8% admitted to getting really drunk at least once in their lifetime.

• Dietary Behaviours: Underweight prevalence was 2.3%, with overweight and obesity rates at 27.8% and 8.9%, respectively. Soft drink consumption was high, with 53.0% drinking them one or more times per day on average.

• Drug Use: Among students who ever used drugs, 66.4% initiated drug use before age 14.

• Hygiene: Most students (two-thirds or more) reported poor tooth cleaning habits, with less than one brushing session per day. Handwashing after using the toilet was also low, affecting nearly 22% of students.

• Mental Health: 10.2% seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, and 7.9% attempted it; additionally, about 5.5% reported having no close friends.

• Physical Activity: Only 27.4% met the minimum daily physical activity guidelines. Most students spent significant time in sedentary activities.

• Protective Factors: 34.7% of students missed classes without permission, and parental involvement in understanding and monitoring was noted by 46.6% for worries and 54.5% for free time.

• Sexual Behaviours: About 18.4% had sexual intercourse, with 54.8% of sexually active individuals engaging in first intercourse before age 14; condom use was relatively high at 64.7%.

• Tobacco Use: 9.5% smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, and 80.0% of smokers had their first cigarette before age 14.

• Violence and Unintentional Injury: Over a quarter experienced physical fights, 22.0% suffered serious injuries, and 19.0% were bullied frequently.

This survey highlights concerning trends in adolescent health behaviors, including high rates of substance use, poor mental health outcomes, and lack of protective factors, while also showing disparities between genders. Further details are available from the contact provided.