Prevalence of Risk Behaviors Related to Intentional and Unintentional Injuries among Adolescent High school Students of Sistan & Balouchestan, Southeast of Iran

Adolescence is an important stage of life marked by changes and rapid development. These changes are associated with health-related behaviors and influence. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of health–related risk behaviors leading to unintentional and intentional injuries among adolescent high school students of Sistan & Balouchestan province. In this cross-sectional study, a multistage cluster sampling method was used to select a representative sample of high school students of Sistan & Balouchestan province. A total of 1855 students (925 males and 930 females) were selected and asked for completion of the questionnaire of risk behaviors. During 12 months preceding the survey, 42.6% of students had ridden motorcycle; 78% of the riders never, 14.5% rarely and 7.5% always used safety helmet. In response to the question of using seat belt while driving a car, they stated never, rarely and always with 39.2%, 35.7% and 24.9%, respectively. They showed that 39% had ridden with a driver who had used drug (opiate or alcohol) and 49.3% stated to have driven a car one or more times without license during lifetime.About 22.1% of high school students had some time carried a weapon (a gun, knife) and 6.7% had carried a gun during the 12 months preceding the study. In that period of time, 53.3% of students were involved in a physical fight and 41.8% reported injury due to their fights, 19.6% had attempted or designed a suicide and 69% reported sadness for several days. About 14.2% had been absent from school one or more times because of unsafe feeling at school or on the way to or from school. In the year prior to the survey, 40.9% had left school without permission. Also, 4% of students had left their home for one day or more. The findings indicated that many high school students of Sistan & Balouchestan were engaged in behaviors that place them at risk of serious health problems. Planning and improving health policies and programs, particularly focusing on adolescents, are recommended to reduce risk associated behaviors.