Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Secondary-School Pupils in Oman: I. Health-Compromising Behaviours

This article reports on a study that examined the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Omani adolescents with regard to health-compromising behaviors in a nationally representative secondary school-based sample of 1670 boys and 1675 girls. The mean age of the sample was 17.13 years. The adolescents were administered a questionnaire that asked about six risky behaviors: current smoking, ever use of alcohol, succumbing to peer pressure to take illicit drugs, driving without a license, speeding while driving, and being involved in a physical fight in the month prior to the survey. The results showed that 4.6% were current smokers, 4.3% had drunk alcohol, and 4.6% had taken drugs. About 20% had been involved in a physical fight in the month prior to the survey, 33.4% drove without a license, and 33.9% liked to speed. In addition, risky driving behavior significantly increased with age. The authors found that male gender and low self-esteem were the strongest predictors of risky behavior.

• Authors:
  • Jaffer, Y A
  • Afifi, M
  • Al Ajmi, F
  • Alouhaishi, K
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 35-49
• Serial:
  • Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 1-2
  • Publisher: World Health Organization

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Behavior; Driving without a license; Drunk driving; High school students; Males; Psychological aspects; Risk taking; Speeding
• Uncontrolled Terms: Age factors
• Geographic Terms: Oman
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01081462
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 28 2007 8:26AM