The Health Culture of Adolescents from Pleven, Bulgaria

Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of teenagers towards certain health risk factors to determine the need for more comprehensive health education among this group. Materials & Methods: In February ۲۰۲۳, a survey was conducted using a direct group approach among ۷۱ children aged ۱۱-۱۳, at two primary schools in the municipality of Pleven, Bulgaria. The children were interviewed after obtaining written informed consent from their parents. An originally developed questionnaire, containing ۲۹ questions adapted to the children's ages, was utilized. Survey data were processed with IBM SPSS Statistics ۲۵ and Excel for Windows statistical software packages. The results are presented through graphs and numerical indicators such as structure, frequency, averages, correlation coefficients, etc. Both the χ۲ and Fisher's exact test were applied for statistical analysis. Findings: The results of this study highlight a significant concern that the ۱۱-۱۳ age group is particularly vulnerable to behavioral health risk factors. Conclusion: Given the findings regarding the risky behaviors of Bulgarian adolescents and their level of health awareness, as derived from the literature review and this study, the urgent introduction of mandatory health and educational measures for adolescents in Bulgaria is recommended.

کلیدواژه ها:

Risk Factors ، Adolescent ، Health Culture