Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to certain morbidities and even mortalities due to risk-taking behaviors. Such kind of behavior renders adolescents unable to grow and develop to their full potential, leading to a loss for a country in both economic and demographic terms. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of health risk behaviors and its association with various sociodemographic parameters among adolescents, and also compare the risk taking behavior and its perception among adolescents residing in rural and urban field practice areas. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study among adolescents residing in the field practice areas of SGRRIM and HS. Data were collected, coded, and entered, and the statistical evaluation was done using appropriate mathematical tools (Microsoft Excel, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0). Risk-taking behavior was assessed in terms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) awareness, substance use, unintentional injuries, and risk-taking perceptions. Results: This study reveals significant differences in health awareness and risk behaviors among adolescents based on their place of residence. Although just over half (51.2%) of the participants were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, urban adolescents were notably more informed than those in rural areas. The prevalence of substance abuse, while relatively low overall (3.3%), was higher in urban adolescents, as were injury rates over the past year. Encouragingly, a majority of adolescents supported road safety measures, such as the compulsory use of helmets (67%) and seatbelts (66.8%). These findings emphasize the need for focused health education, particularly in rural areas, and for reinforcing safety behaviors among all adolescents. Conclusion: Adolescent health education must be strengthened, especially in rural areas, to address knowledge gaps and reduce risky behaviors. At the same time, the positive attitude toward road safety among youth should be leveraged to promote safer practices and prevent injuries.
Kothiyal et al. (Fri,) studied this question.