[To find out the life habits and risk factors of adolescents seen in the Health Centres of two semi-urban populations using a structured open response clinical interview].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the habits and risk factors of adolescents from two Health Centres in two semi-urban populations using a structured clinical interview with open questions.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

SETTING

Two semi-urban populations from the Malaga area.

PARTICIPANTS

Adolescents aged between 16 and 18 years old. We selected 5 medical clinics out of the 19 clinics in the Health Centres, using stratified random sampling. A total of 204 adolescents were included, with 62 (30.39%) of them not attending.

OUTCOMES

42.3% were overweight or obese. The BMI and MBP ratio was R=0.4 They ate fruit, vegetables or dairy products at least once a day 54.2%, 57.8% and 24.5%, respectively. 32.3% of the male teenagers and 63.5% of females did not exercise regularly. 21.8% were smokers, and this was related to a low socio-economical level (OR: 3.38 P=0.001 95% CI: 1.27 to 9) and with abandoning education (OR: 2.88 P=0.015 CI 95%. 1.20 to 6,86). 56.3% usually drink and this habit was also related to abandoning education. (OR: 3.5 95% CI: 1.43 to 8.94). 10.6% of the teenagers consumed illegal substances and their group of friends in 36.6% of the cases. 12.1% had unprotected sex. 12.4% and 13.4% did not use a crash helmet or seat belt, respectively. 24.2% have driven in a drunken state at some point. 20.4% have felt depressed at least once.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors and life style habits prevalent in reference to weight, fruit, vegetables and dairy products consumption, sport, smoking, alcohol and depression problems have been similar to the ones found in other studies that have used anonymous surveys. Prevalence of substance abuse has been lower.