Health behaviour study

I refer to the article in Weekender regarding the health behaviour of school-aged children study and clarify some very important points.

The health behaviour of school-aged children study was carried out among a total of 3,600 adolescents, aged 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds, throughout schools in Malta and Gozo. It collected a wide variety of data, including the psychosocial aspects of health, health-related behaviours such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, eating and exercising patterns and the children's perceptions of family relations, peer relations and school.

A sexual health supplement was administered at the same time, but to 13 and 15 year olds only. The sexual health questionnaire looked into the knowledge and attitudes to sexual health and related behaviours of these young people. The results discussed in the article were those of the sexual health questionnaire.

The study is a World Health Organisation study being carried out throughout Europe, America and Canada. The Health Promotion Department is the institution entrusted with carrying out the local research following the international protocol. The findings from the survey are used to compare health and health behaviours of young people across countries, therefore informing and influencing health promotion and health education policy and practice at national and international levels.

It is only through local research that we can get a true picture of the health behaviours of our young people and be able to create an environment that is conducive to their happiness and well-being.