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Global School-Based Student Health Survey: Country Profiles and Survey Results in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Countries Publisher



Jahani F1 ; Ahmadnezhad E2 ; Abdi Z2 ; Abdalmaleki E2 ; Riaziisfahani S2 ; Haghdoost B2 ; Saffarpour S2
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Tonekabon University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  2. 2. National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Source: Population Medicine Published:2023


Abstract

Background and Objectives: The increasing prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has some major implications on the ability of many countries to achieve universal health coverage. This study aimed to investigate the status of the implementation of Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which is used to assess the risk factors of NCDs among children and adolescents, by the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. Methods: This study was a meta-analysis and systematic literature review of studies published between 2001–2018. These studies were found by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO, and CDC databases. In this study, the target group was students aged between 13 and 15, and between 13 and 17 years old. GSHS implementation as well as the indicators of tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, overweight, and physical activity were compared across different countries. The random-effect model for meta-analysis was considered at 95% confidence interval. Results: In the EMR, 19 countries have implemented GSHS at least once following the survey manual (37 surveys). In total, 201, 795 young adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years old from 19 countries covered in the GSHS were included in our analysis. Among the students (13 and 15 years old), the overall estimation of the overweight prevalence rate was 24.5% (20.6–28.8), obesity prevalence rate was 7.3% (5.4–9.5), insufficient physical activity prevalence rate was 82.4% (80.7–84.1), tobacco usage prevalence rate was 14.3% (10.53–18.67), and smoking prevalence was rate 9.6% (8.1–11.3). In those aged from 13 to 17 years old, these rates were estimated as 19.8 (13.2–27.3), 9.7 (6.2–14.0), 86.1 (84.1–87.9), 17.8 (11.8–24.7), and 11.5 (9.4–13.8), respectively. Conclusions: GSHS has been widely implemented across EMR countries. Using nationally representative data, the results show that more efforts are needed to target the NCDs risk factors among adolescents in the region. © (2023), (European Publishing). All Rights Reserved.