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Health Concerns of Adolescents in Tehran, Iran Publisher Pubmed



Baheiraei A2 ; Khoori E1 ; Weiler RM3 ; Ahmadi F4 ; Foroshani AR5 ; Ghofranipour F6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Counselling and Reproductive Health Research Centre, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 568, Gorgan, 49165, Iran
  2. 2. Community-Based Participatory Research Center, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Public Health Institute, Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
  4. 4. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Nursing, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Health Education, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Source: International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Published:2015


Abstract

Background: Adolescent health concerns are an important source of information that should be considered when planning school and community health promotion policies, programs and services. Adolescence is a critical period of human development and the health concerns of adolescents can point to important issues that may be eclipsed by epidemiologic and other clinical sources of information. This study aimed to assess the health concerns of adolescents living in Tehran, Iran and to examine associations between selected demographics and the health concerns reported by participants. Methods: This study was a population-based cross-sectional survey in 2011. Data were collected from a stratified random cluster sample of 915 adolescents, aged 14-18 years, living in Tehran, using the Persian version of the Adolescent Health Concern Inventory (AHCI-P). The data were analyzed using the χ2, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean numbers of health concerns in girls and boys were 48 (±27.6) and 44.5 (±27.4) respectively. The highest ranking health concern subscale for both girls and boys was The Future, and being successful was endorsed as the most prominent concern in the subscale. Female (OR: 1.42, CI 95%: 1.08-1.87), mother's educational level (OR: 2.23, CI 95%: 1.07-4.65) and living in northern (OR: 1.76, CI 95%: 1.13-2.74) and western (OR: 2.02, CI 95%: 1.30-3.16) regions of Tehran were significant predictors of a higher level of health concerns. Conclusion: Findings can be used to inform school and public health promotion policies, programs and supportive services designed to improve the overall health and well-being of adolescents.