Study of risky behaviors leading to unintentional injuries among high school students in Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVES: To determine risky behaviors leading to unintentional injuries among Tehrani high school students in 2009.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out berween October and December 2009. Out of 237,300 (185151 governmental, 52149 non governmental) Tehrani high school students in both genders, 727 subjects were selected by multistage randomized sampling. Among 20 education districts, 8 districts were selected and divided by stratified sampling into 3 areas: North, Center, and South. Data were collected by cluster random sampling in each district using the standard questionnaire of the Management Diseases Center of America, which had been validated in Iran. Subjects were healthy students aged 12-18 years. Risky behaviors including fall, burn, poisoning, and road traffic injuries were studied.

RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 16.8±1.2, range 12-18 years. Overall, 44% of boys and 38% of girls were exposed to risky behaviors leading to unintentional injuries. Significant differences were observed in driving without licence among boys and in governmental schools (p=0.000). Using a motorcycle was more prevalent in the south of Tehran (p=0.000). Significant differences were observed among boys related to poisoning substance exposure, driving without a licence, motorcycle driving, and non-helmet use during motorcycle driving (p=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the boys and more than one-third of the girls were exposed to risky behaviors leading to unintentional injuries. Prevention of unintentional injuries caused by children's risky behaviors is crucial, particularly among boys and those from deprived areas.