Red flags over adolescents
Disturbing’ facts with regard to school-aged adolescents are out in the open, begging urgent attention and action to break and reverse these trends.
An increasing trend in psychosocial issues, substance abuse, unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles including physical inactivity have been recorded. Aggravating these critical challenges are malnutrition and also high rates of smoking and alcohol-consumption.
Released on Monday (March 10), the exhaustive ‘Global School-based Student Health Survey’ (GSHS) 2024 conducted by the Family Health Bureau of the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry analyses behavioural risk and protective factors among students in the 13-17 age group.
Covering two-thirds of Sri Lanka, it has focused on 10 ‘key’ areas – health-related practices regarding dietary habits; physical activity; hygiene; mental health; oral health; substance abuse; violence; injuries; engagement with parents & peers; and sexual behaviour.
The GSHS 2024 had involved 3,843 students in Grades 8 to 12 from 40 scientifically-selected government schools. It had used 2,912 responses after data cleaning, with a sample size of 2,585.
Citing the Census of 2015, the survey states that of Sri Lanka’s 21.4 million population, nearly one-fifth (3.3m) were adolescents in the age-group 10-19 years.
Some of the main findings are:
Individual food security – 4.3% of the students had reported frequent or constant hunger due to the non-availability of food at home in the 30 days before the survey. This was an increase from 3.1% in 2016.
More males (5.3%) than females (3.4%) had gone hungry.
Malnutrition – One-fifth (21.4%) had been underweight, with more males (27.2%) than females (15.8%) being affected.
Overall, 12.1% had been overweight, including 3% classified as ‘obese’. In the overall group, 12.7% had been females and 11.5% males.
Stunting in the overall group had been 10.9%.
Unhealthy dietary patterns – Alarmingly low had been the consumption of fruit and vegetables. A quarter of the group (24.9%) had not consumed fruit in the week preceding the survey and 3.1% had not eaten vegetables. Only 26.1% had consumed vegetables three or more times daily.
Nearly one-fifth (17.4%) had consumed carbonated drinks daily, with higher rates among males (19.2%) compared to females (15.6%). The younger age group (18.9%) had drunk more carbonated drinks than the older group (13.3%).
Over one-fourth (28%) had consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily, while 28.5% had consumed salty snacks and 29.3% high-fat foods daily.
Physical inactivity – Critical had been the findings with regard to physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours.
Over three-fourths (88.1%) had not engaged in the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity in all seven days preceding the survey. More females (90.5%) than males (85.7%) had exhibited higher inactivity.
Those sitting or lying down for three or more hours daily (excluding school, homework and sleep) had been 43.9%, with tuition attendance contributing to 88.7% of students sitting for over an hour daily.
In damning evidence, meanwhile, 47.9% of students (males – 59.3% and females – 37%) had reported being physically harmed by teachers.
This is while parental engagement had also been put under the microscope, with less than half (44.5%) reporting that their parents/guardians understood their problems and worries. With this percentage showing a notable decline from 62.6% in 2016, 68.5% had, however, indicated in this survey that their parents spent quality time with them, most of the time or always.
This is the third GSHS carried out in the country, preceded by one in 2016 and 2008. The World Health Organization (WHO) had provided the funding and technical support for this multi-country study using a similar methodology.
Reiterating that the survey findings are “timely”, the Director of Maternal & Child Health, Dr. Chandima Siritunga, has said that they would contribute “directly” to the ongoing formulation and revision of key national strategies including the National School Health Policy, the National Action Plan on School Health (2024-30) and the National Strategic Plan for Adolescent and Youth Health (2026-30).
The research team which had put its shoulder to the wheel had comprised Principal Investigator/Survey Coordinator Dr. Chiranthika Vithana and Co-Investigators Dr. Ayesha Lokubalasooriya; Dr. C. de Silva; Dr. W.S. Jayasinghe; Dr. H.L.H. Chinthika; and Dr. Kanchana Mahagamage of the Health Ministry.
Ms. B.W.G. Dilhani from the Education Ministry; Prof. W.A.N.D. Wickramasinghe from the Rajarata University’s Faculty of Medicine; and Dr. Manjula Danansuriya & Dr. Nalika Sepali Gunawardena from the WHO had also been very much a part of the team.
Numerous officials including doctors lauded the survey for not just spotlighting the issues but for also providing detailed and doable recommendations on how to address them before it is too late.
This is an “eye-opener”, they said, underscoring the urgent need for parliamentarians and policymakers to introduce speedy food legislation to stem the slide of adolescents into severe illnesses including non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes.
| Concerning trends | |
| Many were the danger signals when considering the mental health of adolescents. Rising trends have been recorded in social isolation & feeling depressed and also suicidal ideation & attempts, when the 2024 data were compared with those of 2016. The numbers without close friends had increased to 7.5% in 2024 from 5.6% in 2016, while 18% had reported depressive symptoms with a rise in prevalence (26.3%) among the 16-17 age group. The numbers considering self-harm had risen to 15.4% in 2024, when compared to 9.4% in 2016, with females than males in a majority. A similar pattern had been recorded with regard to attempts at self-harm. Regrettably, even though one-third (36.2%) had faced extreme distress, only 2.1% had sought help from adolescent clinics. There had also been “concerning” trends with regard to substance abuse. Those who ever tried smoking cigarettes had doubled to 12.8% in 2024 (males – 21.3% and females – 5.1%), compared to 6.4% in 2016. However, a positive sign had been that among those who had tried smoking, only 34.7% had done so before the age of 14, which was a decrease from 54.8% in 2016, indicating delayed initiation. With regard to alcohol use, 39.3% had reported that they took their first drink before the age of 14, with a slightly higher prevalence among females (42.9%) than males (36.7%). It had also marked a reduction from 2016, when 42.5% had had their first drink before 14. Once again, officials and doctors pointed out the dire need to bring in stronger legislation against easy accessibility of alcohol to adolescents, also cautioning against price reductions which would make it affordable to them.
|
Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page. With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you.