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Introduction PERAK GSHS 2012

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In 2001, theWHO in collaboration with UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNICEF, and with technical assistance from
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), initiated the development of the
Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Since 2003, Ministries of Health and Education
around the world have been using the GSHS to periodically monitor the prevalence of important
health risk behaviours and protective factors among students.To date, more than 100 countries have
completed a GSHS.This report describes results from the _rst GSHS conducted in Perak by the Ministry
of Health Malaysia from 23 February until 26 April 2012.

The purpose of the GSHS is to provide accurate data on health behaviours and protective factors
among students to:
• Help countries develop priorities, establish programmes, and advocate for resources for school
health and youth health programmes and policies;
• Establish trends in the prevalence of health behaviours and protective factors for use in evaluation
of school health and youth health promotion; and
• Allow countries, international agencies, and others to make comparisons across and within
countries regarding the prevalence of health behaviours and protective factors.

The GSHS is a school-based survey conducted primarily among students aged 12-17 years. It
measures behaviours and protective factors related to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity
among youth and adults in Malaysia:
• Alcohol consumption
• Dietary behaviours
• Drug use
• Hygiene (including oral hygiene)
• Mental health problems
• Physical activity
• Protective factors
• Sexual behaviours that contribute to HIV infection, other STIs, and unintended pregnancy
• Tobacco use
• Violence and unintentional injury

1.1 Policies and Programmes for Adolescents in School

The government of Malaysia has developed various policies and programmes for adolescents and
schoolchildren in the country as follows:

1.1.1 Adolescent Health Policy

The Adolescent Health Policy was developed in 2001(1). The objectives of the policy
are to support the development of resilient adolescents through promotion of healthy and
responsible living, preventing the health consequences of risk behaviours through promotion
of wellness and provision of appropriate health care services, and promotion of active
adolescent participation in health promotion and preventive activities.

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