Prevalence and determinants of unintentional injuries and violence among high school students in Turkey: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

Injuries and violence are among the most prominent public health problems in the world. As well as being a leading cause of mortality – particularly among children and young adults – many of the millions of non-fatal injuries result in life-long disabilities and health consequences. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of unintentional injuries and violence, and their associated factors among high school students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included a total of 1218 high-school students in Turkey. Data were collected through a facilitated self-administered questionnaire with questions adapted from the Global School-based Student Health Survey instrument. Data were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0 using chi-square test to find statistical significance if any. The significant variables from the chi-square test were selected for multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

The overall prevalence of physical attack, physical fighting, and serious injuries were 8.3 %, 14.8 %, and 11.7 %, respectively. In a multiple regression analysis, student truancy and lateness, worry, suicide attempts, and not having close friends were found to be associated with physically attacked, physical fight, and serious injuries.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the prevalence of unintentional injuries and violence among high school students is a major public health problem in Turkey. This study results can have important implications for school administration, parents, and policymakers alike to plan appropriate anti-violence strategies and interventions.