Introduction/Purpose: The leading indicators for morbidity and mortality in the Ukraine are high rates of alcohol and tobacco use, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions. This study assessed alcohol, tobacco, and sexual health behaviors of 479 middle and high school students in Veliky Berezny, Ukraine. Findings will be presented, including discussion on how results will be used to implement school health education and health promotion strategies in Ukrainian schools. Methods: A modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey was used. Independent variables were gender, age, grade in school, and ethnicity. Dependent variables included alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual behaviors. Results/Conclusions: Descriptive statistics and ANOVA (p=.05) were used to determine significant variables. Preliminary data indicate that gender, age, and grade in school are significant variables in Ukrainian students' alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual behaviors. Descriptive findings indicate 17% reported smoking 2 to 5 cigarettes per day; 29% smoked their first cigarette between ages 8 and 12; 45.5% reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days; 28.8% said they have had sexual intercourse, and 4.7% have been diagnosed with one or more sexually transmitted diseases. The significance of the findings from this study are directly related to the leading indicators of morbidity and mortality in the Ukraine and emphasize the importance of school health education. These findings will be used to initiate school health education and health promotion strategies in schools, addressing the potential for an overall global impact on adolescent health behaviors and health education in general.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, session participants will be able to: 1. Identify five high risk health behaviors of Ukranian adolescents. 2. Analyze and discuss the impact of Ukranian adolescent health behaviors on the future health care needs of that country. 3. Evaluate and discuss at least two implications of Ukranian adolescent health behaviors on future school health education curricula in Veliky Berezny and the Ukraine collectively. 4. Evaluate and discuss the global impact of Ukrainian adolescent health behaviors and health education.
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Health Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.