Objectives: To determine risky behaviors leading to
unintentional injuries among Tehrani high school
students in 2009.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out
berween October and December 2009. Out of 237,300
(185151 governmental, 52149 non governmental)
Tehrany high school students in both genders, 727
subjects were selected by multistage randomized
sampling. Among 20 education districts, 8 districts were
selected and divided by stratified sampling into 3 areas:
North, Center, and South. Data were collected by cluster
random sampling in each district using the standard
questionnaire of the Management Diseases Center of
America, which had been validated in Iran. Subjects
were healthy students aged 12-18 years. Risky behaviors
including fall, burn, poisoning, and road traffic injuries
were studied.
Results: The mean age of subjects was 16.8±1.2, range
12-18 years. Overall, 44% of boys and 38% of girls
were exposed to risky behaviors leading to unintentional
injuries. Significant differences were observed in driving
without licence among boys and in governmental schools
(p=0.000). Using a motorcycle was more prevalent in the
south of Tehran (p=0.000). Significant differences were
observed among boys related to poisoning substance
exposure, driving without a licence, motorcycle
driving, and non-helmet use during motorcycle driving
(p=0.000).
Conclusion: Approximately half of the boys and
more than one-third of the girls were exposed to risky
behaviors leading to unintentional injuries. Prevention
of unintentional injuries caused by children’s risky
behaviors is crucial, particularly among boys and those
from deprived areas.