Socioeconomic Differentials in Health-Related Behaviors among Korean Adolescents: Findings from the 2007 Korea Youth's Risk Behavior Web- based Study (KYRBWS)

Results: Compared with the highest FAS, adolescents with the lowest FAS were more likely to not have breakfast (odds ratio [OR], 1.484; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 1.393 to 1.581 for male; OR, 1.555; 95% CI, 1.454 to 1.662 for female), not wash their hands before a meal (1.518; 1.424-1.619 for male; 1.472; 1.318-1.568 for female), and not wear seatbelts (1.525; 1.441-1.614 for male; 1.634; 1.539-1.736 for female). FAS was inversely associated with most health-related behaviors (higher FAS, less undesirable health-related behaviors). However, usage of drugs (0.467; 0.387-0.564 for male; 0.379; 0.258-0.556 for female) or inhalers (0.655; 0.568-0.756 for male; 0.734; 0.579-0.930 for female) in both boys and girls, and current smoking (0.829; 0.771-0.891), ever drinking (0.778; 0.734-0.825), and sexual experience in boys (0.761; 0.6850.845) were more prevalent among adolescents from higher FAS households. Conclusion: The adolescents in low socioeconomic status showed positive association with undesirable health-related behaviors.

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