Global School-based Student Health Survey Maldives (Atolls) 2009 Fact Sheet The 2009 Maldives (Atolls) GSHS measured alcohol use; dietary behaviors; hygiene; mental health; physical activity; protective factors; tobacco use; and violence and unintentional injury. The 2009 Maldives (Atolls) GSHS was a school-based survey of students in grades 8, 9, and 10. A two-stage cluster sample design was used to produce data representative of all students in grades 8, 9, and 10 in Maldives (Atolls). At the first stage, schools were selected with probability proportional to enrollment size. At the second stage, classes were randomly selected and all students in selected classes were eligible to participate. The school response rate was 100%, the student response rate was 81%, and the overall response rate was 81%. A total of 1711 students participated in the Maldives (Atolls) GSHS. Students self-reported their responses to each question on a computer scannable answer sheet. For comparison purposes, only students aged 13- 15 years are included in the analyses for this fact sheet. Results for students aged 13-15 years Total Boys Girls 5.6 (3.3-9.3) 8.4 (4.6-14.9) 2.8 (1.3-5.8) * * * 4.7 (3.0-7.5) 7.0 (3.7-12.9) 2.7 (1.4-4.9) 30.3 (25.3-35.8) 34.5 (28.6-41.0) 26.4 (21.3-32.3) 9.3 (7.4-11.6) 12.6 (10.1-15.6) 6.1 (3.8-9.5) 5.0 (3.7-6.7) 5.6 (3.7-8.4) 4.3 (3.1-5.8) 18.4 (15.9-21.1) 18.9 (15.4-22.9) 17.9 (14.4-22.0) 10.5 (7.7-14.2) 13.0 (9.3-17.9) 8.3 (5.6-12.1) Percentage of students who were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more days during the past seven days 25.9 (21.3-31.1) 28.0 (22.0-35.0) 23.6 (18.4-29.8) Percentage of students who spent three or more hours per day during a typical or usual day doing sitting activities 39.9 (34.9-45.2) 40.6 (33.7-47.9) 39.4 (35.2-43.8) Percentage of students who missed classes or school without permission on one or more of the past 30 days 28.6 (23.3-34.5) 34.6 (28.6-41.1) 22.8 (17.1-29.8) Percentage of students whose parents or guardians understood their problems and worries most of the time or always during the past 30 days 33.7 (29.2-38.6) 30.3 (25.0-36.2) 37.4 (31.7-43.4) Percentage of students whose parents or guardians really knew what they were doing with their free time most of the time or always during the past 30 days 48.5 (42.2-54.9) 43.2 (36.2-50.6) 53.5 (46.7-60.2) Alcohol Use Percentage of students who drank at least one drink containing alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days Among students who ever had a drink of alcohol (other than a few sips), the percentage who had their first drink of alcohol before age 14 years Percentage of students who drank so much alcohol that they were really drunk one or more times during their life Dietary Behaviours Percentage of students who usually drank carbonated soft drinks one or more times per day during the past 30 days Hygiene Percentage of students who usually cleaned or brushed their teeth less than one time per day during the past 30 days Percentage of students who never or rarely washed their hands after using the toilet or latrine during the past 30 days Mental Health Percentage of students who ever seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months Percentage of students who had no close friends Physical Activity Protective Factors 2009 Page 1 Global School-based Student Health Survey Maldives (Atolls) 2009 Fact Sheet Results for students aged 13-15 years Total Boys Girls 9.1 (6.8-12.0) 15.0 (10.0-21.9) 3.6 (2.1-6.2) Among students who ever smoked cigarettes, the percentage who first tried a cigarette before age 14 years 76.2 (65.2-84.5) 78.5 (66.2-87.2) * Percentage of students who reported people smoked in their presence on one or more days during the past seven days 56.5 (51.8-61.1) 58.8 (52.6-64.7) 54.4 (48.5-60.1) Tobacco Use Percentage of students who smoked cigarettes on one or more days during the past 30 days Violence and Unintentional Injury Percentage of students who were in a physical fight one or more times during the past 12 months 30.7 (25.1-37.0) 44.7 (37.8-51.8) 17.3 (11.9-24.3) Percentage of students who were seriously injured one or more times during the past 12 months 40.5 (35.2-45.9) 46.7 (39.9-53.6) 34.5 (28.2-41.3) Percentage of students who were bullied on one or more days during the past 30 days 41.6 (37.2-46.1) 44.7 (38.8-50.7) 38.9 (33.9-44.1) * Indicates less than 100 students. For additional information, please contact: Dr Jorge Mario Luna WHO, Male, Republic of Maldives, lunaj@who.org.mv 2009 Page 2