著者

高倉 実 宮城 政也 喜屋武 享

出版者

一般社団法人 日本学校保健学会

雑誌

学校保健研究 (ISSN:03869598)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.62, no.1, pp.43-51, 2020

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<p><b>Background:</b> The leading causes of death,disease, and academic failure among youth are strongly associated with health-risk behaviors. These behaviors are started and established during childhood and adolescence, and extend into adulthood. It is important to monitor the prevalence and trends in health-risk behaviors in order to plan, implement, and assess effective prevention efforts.</p><p><b>Objectives:</b> The aim of this study was to estimate trends in health-risk behaviors among Japanese high school students in Okinawa prefecture from 2002 to 2016.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> The study samples were 2,852 students from 25 public high schools in 2002, 2,892 students from 25 public high schools in 2005, 3,248 students from 29 public high schools in 2008, 3,386 students from 30 public high schools in 2012, and 3,441 students from 30 public high schools in 2016. Data from self-administered anonymous surveys were analyzed to assess trends in the proportion of students who engaged in selected health-risk behaviors. Behaviors studied included those that contribute to injuries, cigarette use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, dietary behaviors, and physical activity and sedentary behaviors.</p><p><b>Results: </b> There was a significant increase in motorcycle helmet use and in seatbelt use and decrease in a ride with drinking driver. In boys, having been in a physical fight showed a significant decrease. Lifetime cigarette use, early initiation of cigarette use, current cigarette use, current frequent cigarette use, and smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day decreased. Lifetime alcohol use, early initiation of alcohol use, current alcohol use, and episodic heavy drinking also decreased. Girls who have been offered, sold, or given an illegal drug by someone decreased. A significant decrease in sexual experience was detected. Those having drunk alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse also decreased. The prevalence of condom use during their last sexual intercourse increased. Girls who had first sexual intercourse before age 13 years decreased. Those having described themselves as overweight decreased. Those who have eaten vegetables during the 7 days before the survey increased, but boys who have eaten fruits during the 7 days before the survey decreased. In girls, unhealthy weight control behaviors such as the use of diet pills and forcing oneself to vomit decreased, but going without eating for over a day increased. Those watching TV for 3 hours or more per day decreased, but playing computer games or using a computer for 3 hours or more per day increased.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study shows that many health-risk behaviors among high school students in Okinawa improved between 2002 and 2016. Conversely, sedentary behavior using computer and computer games, having eaten fruits among boys, and fasting among girls deteriorated over this period.</p>