Differences in health and health behaviors between urban and rural school children aged 11-13 years in Turkey: findings from the health behavior in school-aged children study 2006

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the differences between rural and urban adolescents' health and health behaviors. Material and Method: The data presented in this study were a part of the Turkish data collected for the cross-sectional and international "Health Behavior in School-aged Children 2005/2006 study" which aimed to evaluate adolescents' health and health behavior around Europe and North America. Data were collected from 3884 11 to 13 years of age (1946 males, 1938 females) students who attended 180 classes of 82 primary schools in 23 cities. Statistical analyses were made by using chi square test. Results: Both female and male students who lived in rural areas were more likely to go to bed hungry more often, to feel dizzy more often, to eat fruits less often, to brush teeth less often, to exercise less often and to use computers less often than their peers living in urban areas. Besides, in rural areas, male students were more likely to be violent and female students were more likely to feel unhealthy, to be unsatisfied with their lives and to be injured more often than their urban peers. Both female and male students who lived in urban areas were more likely to eat or drink more energy dense and low nutritional value foods and drinks than their peers living in rural areas. Males who lived in urban areas were more likely to be on a diet, not to be satisfied with their body and to be obese than their peers living in rural areas. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that there are several health inequities between rural and urban female and male adolescents. These differences should be taken into account, when prepering adolescent health promotion programs, (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 96-104)