Kids drinking & smoking less but having more sex - survey

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound, on 10/12/2015. Kids drinking & smoking less but having more sex - survey

Tags: Parenting

An Irish school children’s health survey found that the numbers of children who smoke or drink is down on previous years however there has been an increase in the number of older chldren who say they've had sex.

The study, 'Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2014 report' was funded by the Department of Health and is conducted by the Health Promotion Research Centre, NUI, Galwayin collaboration with the World Health Organisation. In 2014 the research involved 13,611 questionnaires from pupils aged 9-18 years from 230 schools in Ireland.

Compared to previous years studies the report highlighted some positive results with most behaviors among school going children stable on previous years study. Here are the key findings directly from report:

‘More boys and younger children reported better general health.'

‘There was an overall decrease in reported levels of smoking and drunkenness and an increase in levels of never drinking between 2010 and 2014. Smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use were more commonly reported among boys and older children while social class differences were not evident.

‘Many children reported that it is easy to buy cigarettes or get someone else to buy cigarettes for them in most shops in the area where they live and go to school.

‘Overall, reported levels of fruit and vegetable consumption have increased, with higher levels of consumption among girls, younger children and children from higher social classes.

‘Consumption of sweets and soft drinks have decreased from 2010, with fewer younger children and children from higher social classes reporting consuming these foods and drinks.

‘Girls, older children and children from lower social classes more commonly reported being on a diet. There was no change in the proportion of children who reported never eating breakfast on weekdays, while the proportion of children who reported going to school or to bed hungry remained stable from 2010.

‘The overall proportion of children who reported being in a physical fight has decreased from 2010, with more boys, younger children and children from lower social classes reporting this.’

'There was an increase in the overall proportion of children who reported having ever had sex between 2010 and 2014. More boys and children from lower social classes reported ever having had sex. There were no gender or social class differences in either birth control pill or condom use at last intercourse among those who reported having ever had sex.

Read full report here.