Health Risk Behaviours among Students of Professional Courses In Colleges Of Coastal City Of Visakhaptnam, Andhra Pradesh - A Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Karri Vijaya Professor & HOD of Community Medicine, NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Sangivalasa, Viskhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Epari Ravi Kiran Professor of Community Medicine, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute of Health Care and Medical Technology, Viskhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Mounica Chellem Associate Investigator, NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Sangivalasa, Viskhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Keywords:

Students, health risk behaviour, mobile phone, addiction.

Abstract

Introduction: Youth, the productive and dynamic section of the population is considered as the most valuable human resource. It is marked with immense physiological, psychological and behavioural changes along with social interactions and relationships which leads them into multiple risk behaviours affecting their health. Objective: To assess the multiple health risk behaviours among students of professional courses in colleges and to determine their association with other covariates. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students aged above 18 years of professional courses in colleges located in campus of Anil Neerukonda Educational Society (ANES) in Visakhapatnam with a sample size of 402. The data was collected from the study subject by a using a pre-designed, pretested and self-administered questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.13 ± 1.50 years. Physical activity of more than 300 minutes per week was observed in 20.9% of the students. Mobile phone usage was more than 6 hours per day in 49.2% of students. There were significant associations between gender and mobile phone usage (p=0.040), gender and time spent on social media every day (p=0.002), students of professional courses and duration of mobile phone usage (p<0.001) and students of professional courses and duration of use of social media(p<0.001). 61.4% of the students consumed fast foods as meals and the association of fast food and gender was found be significant. (p=0.016).Similarly association of soft drink consumption and gender was found to be significant.(p=0.001).3.5% of the students were involved in drunken driving.15.2% of them were found to be driving vehicles at speeds more than 100 kmph.17.9% of them used mobile phones while driving. Association between gender and road traffic accidents (RTA) was found to be significant. (p=0.001). Students of Engineering courses were more involved in RTAs then students of other courses and the association was found to be significant. (p=0.005) Significant association was present between gender and addiction (p<0.001) and between students of various courses and addiction.(p=0.046). Conclusion: Students of the professional courses in this study showed various health risk behaviours. Health education is the most effective intervention in initiating behavioural changes at the earliest which lead to prevention of development of health risk behaviours.

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Published

2022-01-17

How to Cite

Karri Vijaya, Epari Ravi Kiran, & Mounica Chellem. (2022). Health Risk Behaviours among Students of Professional Courses In Colleges Of Coastal City Of Visakhaptnam, Andhra Pradesh - A Cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Health and Clinical Research, 5(2), 654–662. Retrieved from https://ijhcr.com/index.php/ijhcr/article/view/4780