Kebede D, Ketsela T
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Bull World Health Organ. 1993;71(6):787-94.
The present study measured the prevalence of the precursors of atherosclerosis among 519 adolescents selected from high-school students in Addis Ababa. Also assessed was their knowledge about these precursors and about the hazards of smoking and of heavy alcohol consumption. A total of 13.8% of the adolescents smoked, 11.6% had a sedentary lifestyle, 9.2% consumed alcohol heavily, 14.1% were obese, 30.3% had one risk factor, and 4.4% had two risk factors for atherosclerosis. Altogether, 58% had inadequate knowledge about the precursors of atherosclerosis, and 62% and 51.4%, respectively, had inadequate knowledge about the hazards of smoking and of consuming alcohol. High-risk behaviours were positively associated with upper-income families and inadequate knowledge about the precursors of atherosclerosis. A substantial proportion of adolescents in Addis Ababa therefore exhibit the precursors of atherosclerotic and hypertensive diseases. Further, similar studies should be carried out in other Ethiopian cities, and the Ministries of Health and Education should give due attention to the primary prevention of these diseases and formulate plans for appropriate actions.
本研究对从亚的斯亚贝巴的高中生中选取的519名青少年的动脉粥样硬化前期患病率进行了测量。同时还评估了他们对这些前期症状以及吸烟和大量饮酒危害的了解情况。共有13.8%的青少年吸烟，11.6%的青少年生活方式久坐不动，9.2%的青少年大量饮酒，14.1%的青少年肥胖，30.3%的青少年有一个风险因素，4.4%的青少年有两个动脉粥样硬化风险因素。总体而言，58%的青少年对动脉粥样硬化前期症状了解不足，分别有62%和51.4%的青少年对吸烟和饮酒危害了解不足。高风险行为与高收入家庭以及对动脉粥样硬化前期症状的了解不足呈正相关。因此，亚的斯亚贝巴的很大一部分青少年表现出动脉粥样硬化和高血压疾病的前期症状。此外，应在埃塞俄比亚的其他城市开展类似研究，卫生部和教育部应适当关注这些疾病的一级预防，并制定适当行动的计划。
