Prevalence of self-reported risk behaviors related to non-communicable diseases among Seychellois students aged 15 years and relationships with personal and other characteristics

Background. Behaviors such as smoking habits, physical exercise, alcohol drinking and dietary patterns have large impact on later development of cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases. This survey examined the prevalence of such risk behaviors among students aged 15 and relationships between these behaviors and various personal and other characteristics of the students. Methods. A shortened version of the Health Behavior in School Children (HBSC, World Health Organization) was administered in November 2001 to all 537 students of S3 classes (mean age: 14.9±0.4 years) of 4 secondary schools of Mahé. Data were collected using an anonymous selfadministered questionnaire including 47 closed-ended questions on smoking, drug taking, alcohol drinking, dietary patterns, physical exercise and a broad range of personal, social and other characteristics of the students. The use of the standard HBSC questionnaire permits to compare data in Seychelles with those from other countries