Trends of 20 Health Risk Behaviours Among Adolescents in Morocco: Results of Three National Cross-Sectional School Surveys of 2006, 2010 and 2016

Background: This study aimed to estimate the trends of 20 health risk behaviours among adolescents in Morocco. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 13,109 adolescents (14 years median age) that took part in three waves (2006, 2010, and 2016) of the Morocco Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were analysed. Results: Among both boys and girls, five health risk behaviours (being physically attacked, annual injury, passive smoking, zero days walking or biking to school, and poor hand hygiene after toilet use) significantly declined over time, as well as among boys the involvement in physical fighting. Inadequate fruit intake and current tobacco use increased among both boys and girls over time, and among girls bullying victimization and among boys poor hand hygiene prior to eating increased over time. Conclusion: More health risk behaviours decreased than increased in this study of three cross-sectional surveys over a period of 10 years. Additional school health promotion is needed.

Automated summary

The study revealed that the majority of health risk behaviors among adolescents in Morocco decreased over the past ten years, with some exceptions showing an increasing trend, highlighting the need for further strengthening of school health promotion efforts.