Injuries and risk-taking behaviours in Portuguese adolescents: Highlights from the health behaviour in school-aged children survey

AimInjuries in adolescence are an important public health problem and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this age group. This study aimed to determine the behaviour profile associated to risk of injury and the differences between genders, region and ethnic origin.MethodsA cross-sectional study design of a nationally representative sample of 1581 adolescents of the Portuguese Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study.ResultsAn occurrence of one injury-related event in the previous year was reported by 21.4% of the respondents and 5.9% referred having more than one injury-related event. Boys reported higher frequency of those events when compared to girls, and non-Portuguese subjects referred higher frequency of events. Scoring higher in violence-related behaviour and psychosomatic complaints was associated to higher chances of referring more than one injury-related event.ConclusionGender, social background and behaviour profile are factors that seem to influence the risk of injuries. This information should guide those involved in the planning of injuries prevention programs in youth.

► Injuries are a serious social and health problem affecting at least one out of five adolescents each year.
► This study confirms the contribution of some established individual and social factors on risk profile in adolescence.
► Being a boy, non-national, referring violent behaviour and psychosomatic complaints is associated with a high risk of injury.
► Even in small countries like Portugal there are differences among regions in risk taking behaviour.
► This evidence prompts for the need of research based behaviour interventions supported on survey tools such as the HBSC.